Paul Rutten is a Research Professor at Creating 010, a research center at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, where he specializes in the creative industries and innovation. He has an extensive academic career, having held positions at several universities, including professorships at Erasmus University, University of Antwerp and Leiden University, and serving as a senior researcher at TNO.

Since joining Creating 010 in 2012, Rutten has contributed significantly to various projects, including his current role in the Innovatielabs project under CLICKNL and the Fund Creative Industry, which is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Culture. Furthermore he is one of the initiators of Monitor Creative Industrie which first appeard in 2006. The tenth edition is due at the beginning of 2026.

In addition to his research work, Rutten has served as the director of Creating 010 from 2015 to 2019 and was actively involved in several advisory boards, including CLICKNL and the scientific committee for the Master in Digital Entertainment Business at Luiss Business School in Amsterdam. He also owns Paul Rutten Onderzoek, further emphasizing his commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of creative industries.