Birmingham City Uni leads project boosting creative technology sector in West Midlands
CreaTech Frontiers aims to drive research and development in areas including applied AI and animation
Birmingham City University (BCU) is leading a new £6.75 million project supporting the growth of the creative technology sector across the West Midlands.
The CreaTech Frontiers collaboration, which includes the University of Birmingham, Coventry University, The University of Warwick, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, aims to drive research and development in immersive audio and video technologies, virtual production, applied AI and animation.
Grants of up to £10,000 for research in these areas are available for businesses in the West Midlands.
According to the initiative, businesses and individuals will also have access to paid internships, access to academic experts, mentoring, and the research and development labs to create new products and services.
Lamberto Coccioli, Professor of Music and Technology at BCU’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and project lead, said:
“CreaTech Frontiers will bring together the most valuable assets of this region – a young and diverse talent pool, world-class research, outstanding arts organisations, and a budding tech sector – to spark innovation and stimulate growth.
“We’re delighted to support creative technology companies in the West Midlands with a comprehensive programme of grants and skills development led by industry needs. It’s fantastic news for the people and businesses of Birmingham and beyond.”
The Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
"Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. That’s why we are supporting firms, artists and freelancers that are innovating, using new technology and driving growth in creative clusters across the country.
"Birmingham and the West Midlands have a rich industrial history, and we are putting them at the forefront of a potential new industry developing the amazing technology that will revolutionise visual effects in film, theatre and gaming. "