Abstract:
Against the backdrop of the rapid expansion of the global digital economy and the digital transformation of cultural and creative industries, building cultural and creative industry ecosystems that combine local distinctiveness with international competitiveness has become an important pathway for Chinese cities to enhance their cultural soft power. At present, China’s leading cultural and creative hubs are leveraging digital technologies to promote the development of industrial ecosystems and expand the global influence of their cultural brands. Through forward-looking strategic planning, Chengdu has systematically advanced digital infrastructure development, ecosystem-based development of cultural intellectual property (IP) assets, the establishment of industry collaboration platforms, and policy innovation, thereby fostering a distinctive cultural and creative industry ecosystem characterized by technology empowerment, cultural revitalization, and ecosystem synergy. Nevertheless, as this ecosystem evolves toward maturity and greater international competitiveness, it continues to face several structural constraints, including insufficient exploration of its cultural heritage and core values, significant disparities in the capabilities of market participants, an inadequately supportive business environment, and a shortage of high-level interdisciplinary professionals. These challenges, while particularly evident in Chengdu, also reflect the common difficulties encountered by many Chinese cities in their efforts to build distinctive cultural and creative industry ecosystems amid industrial transformation and upgrading. To further advance such ecosystems, Chinese cities should pursue systematic and integrated innovation across four key dimensions: strengthening the value embedded in local cultural resources, consolidating an inclusive digital technology foundation, improving the institutional and policy environment, and developing a diversified talent cultivation system. Specifically, efforts should focus on deepening cultural narratives and advancing value-chain development of distinctive cultural IP assets, strengthening inclusive digital infrastructure, optimizing policy support to foster a world-class business environment, and promoting industry–education integration to establish a multidimensional talent supply system.