New consortium selected to manage creative industries network

- University of the Arts London, Imperial College London, The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and TIGA join forces to manage new knowledge transfer network for the creative industries

- CITIN - the Creative Industries Technology Innovation Network - will stimulate innovation across all sectors of the creative industries and accelerate the rate of technology transfer

Collaboration and innovation in the UK's creative industries is set to be enhanced following the decision by the Technology Strategy Board to appoint a new consortium to manage the newly-created creative industries knowledge transfer network.

The consortium - which bid successfully for the management role following an open competition - comprises the University of the Arts London, Imperial College London, The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and TIGA.

CITIN - the Creative Industries Technology Innovation Network - will bring together businesses, universities, research and technology organisations, the finance community and other intermediaries and provide a range of activities and initiatives to enable the exchange of knowledge and stimulation of innovation across all sub-sectors of the creative industries.

The creative industries are a key new application area for the Technology Strategy Board, driven by the significant contribution the sector makes to the UK economy and the role technology plays in driving and inspiring innovation. It is a vast and diverse sector spanning sectors such as advertising, architecture, computer games, crafts, performing arts, TV & radio, film and video, designer fashion, software, music, design and publishing.

Commenting on the decision to appoint the consortium to manage the new network, the Technology Strategy Board's Chief Executive, Iain Gray, said: "The creative industries sector accounts for over 7% of GVA and is growing at twice the rate of the economy as a whole. However the sector faces considerable challenges arising from its fragmented nature, the predominance of SME and micro organisations and the rapid change to products, services and business models brought about by digital technologies. If the UK is to maintain and extend its role as the world's creative hub, we need to develop the new and innovative technologies that will support the sector in the years to come and continue to exploit well established technologies in new ways."

He added: "The delivery consortium has a deep and broad understanding of the creative industries, comprehensive access to scientific and technology research and well-established capabilities in delivering knowledge transfer and networking activities. I am delighted that we will be working with them."

Sir Michael Bichard, Rector, University of the Arts London says: "The value of the creative industries to the UK economy cannot be overstated, and this initiative recognises the pivotal role technology will play in keeping the UK's creative sector ahead of the ever more sophisticated pack."

Notes to Editors

1. The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its mission is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). For further information please visit http://www.innovateuk.org

2. Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) are national networks of technical experts and other interested parties, designed to improve the UK's innovation performance by increasing and accelerating the knowledge transfer of technology into UK-based businesses. Their activities play an increasingly important role in the development of the Government's technology strategy, and help to feed and drive the Collaborative Research & Development Programme and other innovation interventions. There are now 25 KTNs with a membership of around 30,000.

3. Within the overall objective of accelerating the rate of technology transfer into UK business, the specific aims of a Knowledge Transfer Network include (a) to deliver improved industrial performance through innovation and new collaborations by driving the flow of people, knowledge and experience between business and the science-base, between businesses and across sectors (b) to drive knowledge transfer between the supply and demand sides of technology-enabled markets through a high quality, easy to use service (c) to facilitate innovation and knowledge transfer by providing UK businesses with the opportunity to meet and network with individuals and organisations, in the UK and internationally, and (d) to provide a forum for a coherent business voice to inform government of its technology needs and about issues, such as regulation, which are enhancing or inhibiting innovation in the UK.

4. In addition to establishing the new network, the Technology Strategy Board is investing £10 million to support innovation across the UK's creative industries. The Board announced in February that it will support innovative research and development projects that will exploit digital technologies to increase the competitiveness of the UK's creative industries sector, with a particular focus on small and micro companies, with specially targeted schemes. For more information about this competition please visit http://www.technologyprogramme.org.uk

Issued by

Nick Sheppard
Media Relations Manager
Technology Strategy Board
Block B, North Star House
North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1FF

Published on: 2008-05-08

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