After 18 years as Managing Director of Creative Industries Styria, Eberhard Schrempf will retire at the end of August 2025. This is his farewell statement.
After 18 years of intense, inspiring, and incredibly enriching work as Managing Director of Creative Industries Styria, the time has now come for me to enter a well-deserved retirement.
When I look back on these years, one feeling prevails above all: gratitude. Gratitude for a strong team, for partners, shareholders, funding bodies, and above all for the creatives who form the heart and soul of our network. Together, we have built a unique network that connects creativity, innovation, and economic strength – and that has made Styria visible far beyond its borders.
One milestone I am particularly proud of was the successful nomination of the City of Graz as a UNESCO City of Design. With this, we not only increased the international visibility of the city but also sent a clear message: creativity and design are strategic factors for the economic, cultural, and societal success of a region. I am equally proud of the successful establishment of the format “Austrian Design Talks at Schloss Hollenegg,” which for the past ten years has brought together design experts, creatives, and decision-makers from business and politics, fueling discussions on innovation, design strategy, and creative future topics.
Together, we have advanced the internationalization of the Styrian creative industries. Today, Creative Industries Styria is not only a reliable national driver but also highly respected internationally – with an excellent reputation, broad reach, and high acceptance. Projects, collaborations, and participation in international conferences, competitions, and networks demonstrate: the Styrian creative economy is globally visible, connected, and competitive.
I remember the very first Design Month Graz, when we hardly knew how much interest it would attract – today the festival has reached over one million visitors and worked with 1,400 program partners. I think of Experience Economy, which has given 4.5 million people the chance to look behind the scenes of Styrian businesses. I think of the hundreds of matches made through “Design to Business,” of 1,800 engaged members who, with 1,000 calls and 10,000 media clippings, have become part of a growing movement.
All these numbers tell a story: of courage, of curiosity, of collective development. But even more, they tell the story of people willing to shape, to change, to connect. Without Creative Industries Styria, much of this would have remained invisible – and Styria would have lost a strong creative backbone.
The relevance of our network can (after my 18 years as Managing Director) be summarized in 18 points that, to me, make clear why it is indispensable:
01_Without creative networks, everyone stands alone.
CIS brings creatives, businesses, research, and education together – creating solutions that would never be possible in isolation.
02_Without visibility, achievements remain unseen.
CIS ensures that the achievements of the creative industries are recognized and understood in business, society, and politics.
03_Without bridges, there is no path.
CIS connects educational institutions such as FH JOANNEUM, TU Graz, and Ortweinschule with companies – a pipeline for innovation.
04_Without exchange, knowledge gets stuck.
CIS fosters dialogue between disciplines – from design to architecture to media – because innovation needs diversity.
05_Without fresh impulses, everything grows old.
Formats like Designmonat Graz or the Austrian Design Talks make Styria an internationally visible hub for future topics.
06_Without opportunities, talent is lost.
CIS creates an environment that encourages young creatives to stay in the region and gives them perspectives.
07_Without design, there is no profile.
Design makes products, services, and regions distinctive – CIS helps unlock this potential.
08_Without creative minds, there is no strategic future.
Many of today’s key positions are shaped by creatives – CIS supports them on their journey.
09_Without international connections, no global access.
CIS connects Graz and Styria with the world – as an active node in the network of UNESCO Cities of Design.
10_Without mediation, potential remains unused.
CIS translates creative achievements into economic value – visible, applicable, effective.
11_Without knowledge work, no knowledge transfer.
A highly qualified editorial team prepares knowledge, trends, and innovations from around the world daily for the network – profound, up-to-date, and relevant.
12_Without communication, no community.
CIS creates visibility for everyone in the network – through platforms, media, events, and personal presence.
13_Without a creative climate, no healthy economy.
Innovative capacity does not emerge in a vacuum – CIS ensures a climate where ideas grow and markets develop.
14_Without culture, no progress.
CIS understands design as a cross-cutting matter that goes far beyond “beautiful things” – it is about attitude, responsibility, and transformation.
15_Without thinking outside the box, no solutions.
CIS enables shifts in perspective – an essential tool for transformation across all economic sectors.
16_Without trust, no boldness.
CIS gives creative projects the space to take new paths – beyond purely economic thinking.
17_Without the network, no shared growth.
The creative sector has grown over the years – in quality, in businesses, in employment, in value creation. This impact benefits all of Styria.
18_Without CIS, much would remain invisible – until it is gone.
Real relevance is often only recognized in its absence. Institutions like CIS are system-relevant – as enablers, shapers, and drivers of innovation.
I leave with the deep conviction that Creative Industries Styria stands on a strong foundation: with a team that combines expertise in creative industries, design management, communication, digital services, and internationalization; with partners who have the courage to take new paths; and with a vision that inspires people, transforms markets, and strengthens Styria as a creative hub.
My thanks go to everyone who made this journey possible – for the collaboration, the ideas, the support, and the trust. It has been an honor to build, accompany, and experience this network, and to witness how it sustainably changes the region, its people, and its economy.
With heartfelt regards,
Eberhard Schrempf