New funding to support creative technology in the West Midlands

Coventry University is collaborating with Birmingham City University, the University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick, and the Royal Shakespeare Company on a £6.75 million initiative aimed at enhancing creative technology in the West Midlands. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the five-year programme, titled CreaTech Frontiers, seeks to support businesses, foster collaborative research and development, and address regional challenges such as skills gaps, underinvestment, and lack of diversity in the creative technology sector.

The programme will establish four specialist research and development labs: Virtual Production at Coventry University; Immersive Audio and Video Technologies at Birmingham City University; Applied AI for Createch at the University of Birmingham; and Gaming, Esports, and Animation at the University of Warwick. These labs will collaborate across cultural, creative, and technology sectors to develop new products, services, content, and concepts.

CreaTech Frontiers will provide £1.8 million in funding grants to regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering awards between £5,000 and £50,000. Additionally, the programme includes business support, 70 paid internships, and 16 fully funded PhD placements to build local talent and drive long-term industry growth.

The initiative is supported by a network of industry and cultural collaborators, including Vodafone, ARUP, Rebellion, Hollywood Gaming, Birmingham Open Media, Mirrorpix, Capture, Culture Central, and the Birmingham Opera Company.

Professor Nick Henry, Director of Coventry University’s Research Centre for Creative Economies, will serve as Co-Investigator, and Rachel Farrer, Coventry University’s Associate Director of Cultural Community Engagement, is a key project collaborator.

Lamberto Coccioli, Professor at Birmingham City University and Director of CreaTech Frontiers, said, “These initial grants will give freelancers and small companies access to capital and to the research expertise and resources of CreaTech Frontiers to bring to life their most innovative ideas. It’s not just about developing new technologies; it’s about creating opportunities for companies to think how they can have cultural and social impact for the region. There are a lot of companies and entrepreneurs already suggesting collaborations and wanting to apply. I’m delighted we’re filling a gap that West Midlands businesses need.”

Professor Nick Henry, Director of the Research Centre for Creative Economies, Coventry University, and Co-Director of CreaTech Frontiers, commented, “Over 175 years ago Coventry School of Design was founded by entrepreneurs and industrialists. Today, together with our regional partners, Coventry University are delighted to add collaborative research, development and innovation to our ongoing history of skills and enterprise support to the West Midlands creative economy. We look forward passionately to new createch collaborations and partnerships to boost the economic and social prosperity of the West Midlands.”

The programme aims to embed principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as sustainable and responsible innovation practices, ensuring that its benefits are accessible to the diverse talent and communities in the West Midlands.