Birmingham City University (BCU) has embarked on a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the creative technology sector in the West Midlands through a £6.75 million project known as CreaTech Frontiers. This collaborative effort involves several notable partners, including the University of Birmingham, Coventry University, The University of Warwick, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The initiative is designed to foster research and development in various cutting-edge fields, particularly focusing on immersive audio and video technologies, virtual production, applied artificial intelligence, and animation. As part of this effort, businesses operating within the West Midlands could benefit from grants of up to £10,000 to support research in these critical areas.

In addition to financial support, CreaTech Frontiers will provide a range of opportunities for local businesses and individuals. Participants will have access to paid internships, expert mentorship, and state-of-the-art research and development labs, facilitating the creation of innovative products and services.

Lamberto Coccioli, Professor of Music and Technology at BCU’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and the project lead, emphasised the importance of the initiative in utilising the region’s resources. “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,” he stated. Coccioli added that the programme aims to support creative technology companies in the West Midlands through a well-structured approach to grants and skills development tailored to industry needs.

The project has also garnered attention from government officials, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who highlighted the disparity between talent availability and opportunity. “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,” she said. Nandy underscored Birmingham’s rich industrial heritage and its potential to spearhead a burgeoning industry focused on advancing technology for visual effects in film, theatre, and gaming.

This collaborative effort not only aims to stimulate the local economy but also to position the West Midlands as a leading hub for creative technology innovation.

Source: Noah Wire Services