One of the fastest growing industries around the globe is the creative and cultural industries. The industries basically combine arts, culture, business and technology. In Europe, the United Kingdom owns the hugest amount of creative sectors owing to the active and effective promotion of the government. With its excellent track record, the UK is regarded as a pioneer and a world leader in sustaining the development of creative and cultural industries. According to the UK’s definition, the creative and cultural industries generally refer to those industries that rely on original creativity, expertise and talent and have the capacity to generate wealth and jobs by means of the advancement of intellectual property. In total, there are thirteen sectors that can be seen as belonging to the creative and cultural industries, including advertising, architecture, the art and antiques market, crafts, design, designer fashion, film, interactive leisure software, music, the performing arts, publishing, software, and television and radio. Later definition of the industries has also added the aspects of enhancing social inclusion, cultural diversity and human development to the initial one.

   In comparison with other countries such as the UK, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, Taiwan still has space for the development of the creative and cultural industries. Although not necessarily coming in large number, three of the most prosperous cases in Taiwan include Liuli Gongfang, Seagull Group, and PiLi International. Liuli Gongfang emerged as a small enterprise and then became one of the world’s leading glassware makers. The Seagull Group has an internationally renowned brand, “Fran,” because of its successful promotion strategies. PiLi International with its incorporation of multimedia has remarkably converted itself from a traditional puppet theatre troupe into a modern and flourishing venture. While still adhering to the original puppet show philosophy, PiLi has in effect woven the modern and contemporary culture into the puppet show tradition so nicely that it has become a great success in the creative industry. PiLi’s innovative commercialization of traditional culture has received much admiration as well as an excellent model for related industries to imitate. In 2002, PiLi was also certified by the Government Information Office as part of an “important emerging industry,” recognizing its significant role in the creative and cultural industries. With the rapid emergence of these industries, both the government and the people in Taiwan have also paid much attention to the growth of these industries.

        An old proverb says that “Necessity is the mother of invention.” But if you look at real-life stories of technology,you’ll see that not all inventions were planned. Some of them were accidents! In the 1940s, a scientist named Percy Spencer was working to develop radar systems for the U.S. military. Oneday, in his laboratory, he noticed that a chocolate bar in his pocket had gotten very soft and melted even though itwasn’t hot in the room. He was standing next to a machine called a magnetron. Quickly, he did an experiment, puttingsome kernels of corn next to the magnetron. In a minute, he had popcorn. And that was how the microwave oven wasinvented. 

        “Accidental inventions” have been happening for a long time. In 1839, a salesman was experimenting with a newproduct from Brazil called rubber. It could be used to make erasers, but it melted at high temperatures, and broke whenit was cold. The inventor tried mixing it with different chemicals, but nothing worked until he accidentally dropped iton a hot stove. Heat made the rubber strong and flexible. Thanks to Charles Goodyear’s accident, we now have rubbertires for our cars, and rubber soles for our shoes.