Creative industries

The creative industries are a new market 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 arts and antiques, architecture, advertising, computer games, crafts, performing arts, TV & radio, film and video, designer fashion, software, music, design and publishing.

Combined, the sector accounts for over 7% GVA and is growing at twice the rate of the economy. Globally the UK enjoys a leading position across many of the sub sectors and according to a recent OECD report contributes a greater percentage to national GDP than any other country.

However the sector faces considerable challenges arising from their fragmented nature; the predominance of SME and micro organisations; the rapid change to products, services and business models brought about by digital technologies; and globalisation with emerging economies such as India and China increasing their investment in knowledge skills.

Immediate priorities for the Technology Strategy Board include:

• The Launch of a Knowledge Transfer Network for the Creative Industries - to provide an overarching network to promote horizontal sharing of knowledge and best practice across the sub sectors; to identify cross cutting issues and opportunities and develop solutions to address them.
  
• Promoting participation in multidisciplinary collaborative research - through the launch of a collaborative R&D programme that will be relevant and have broad appeal across the industry.
  
• Supporting innovation in small companies - providing the means for small companies to access expertise and resources outside their firm so that they can develop initial ideas into more robust propositions for further investment.
  
• Encouraging SME participation in public sector funded collaborative R&D - by reducing their financial exposure with smaller, shorter, technology neutral, SME lead programmes.
  
• The review and analysis of technology inspired challenges and opportunities facing the Creative Industries - to develop a prioritised innovation support action plan.