Enhancing Creative Industries through Progress and Invention

Enhancing Creative Industries through Progress and Invention

In an article authored by Professor Andrew Chitty, Challenge Director, IUK - UKRI, we delve into the innovative approach that is transforming the UK's creative industries - the Creative Industries Clusters Programme (CICP).

The CICP model is designed to stimulate growth in the creative sectors by establishing regional clusters that bring together universities, industry partners, and public funders. One such cluster, InGAME in Dundee, led by Abertay University, integrates videogames and immersive technologies, offering up to £50,000 in non-monetary support for collaborative R&D.

The success of the CICP lies in its unique delivery method: building partnerships, facilitating networks, and devolving powers. This cluster-based approach aims to create innovation ecosystems where knowledge exchange, infrastructure sharing, and close collaboration drive growth.

The programme has been instrumental in positioning cluster regions as global leaders in selected creative fields, enhancing innovation, productivity, and competitiveness in DCMS sectors. Since 2018, it has invested £56.8m in Creative Industries research and innovation in the UK.

The CICP's focus on collaboration extends beyond the clusters themselves. Each CRDP increases its industry network, engaging local and combined authorities, devolved governments, LEPs, and economic development agencies. This collaborative approach has collectively generated £213m of co-investment, with every £1 spent by UKRI raising a further £3.80, primarily from the private sector.

The CICP is not just about economic growth; it's about fostering innovation and driving measurable economic growth. The aim was to turbocharge Research and Innovation (R&I) within an established creative cluster.

On a global scale, the CICP is involved in conversations between the Global North and South, aiming to unsettle and reorder the creative economy. The Global Creative Economy Council, chaired by Marta Foresti, is a key player in these discussions.

The CICP's objectives include raising the number of businesses participating in R&D, increasing the capability of creative firms to develop new products, providing access to innovation infrastructure, and driving third-party investment into clusters and businesses.

The programme also addresses sector-wide challenges. The Creative Industries Sector Plan includes key announcements regarding AI, Intellectual Property and Regulation, Business Models and Access to Finance, Cross-cutting, Geography of the Creative Industries, International, Trade and Immigration, R&D and Innovation, Skills, Jobs and Education.

The Arts, Culture and Heritage sectors are highlighted as areas where higher education plays a crucial role. Professor Dave O'Brien, along with Dr Peter Campbell and Dr Ruoxi Wang, discuss class inequalities in film funding and the creative self-employed workforce in England and Wales.

Professor Nick Wilson also addresses the Equity Gap in Britain's Creative Industries. The Levelling-Up White Paper, produced by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities, emphasises ideas and innovation as key drivers for rebalancing the economy.

The 2025 Spending Review has an impact on the creative industries, according to a readout from Creative PEC Bernard Hay and Emily Hopkins. The review underscores the importance of higher education in sectors like journalism, where accredited qualifications are emphasised.

In conclusion, the CICP model's key components - regional cluster formation, partnerships, collaborative R&D support schemes, and a focus on innovation, productivity, and global positioning - facilitate knowledge exchange and innovation, contributing directly to economic growth in the UK’s creative industries. The programme's success is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in driving economic growth and competitiveness.

1. The Creative Industries Clusters Programme (CICP) is transforming the UK's creative industries by establishing regional clusters that bring together universities, industry partners, and public funders.
2. One such cluster, InGAME in Dundee, led by Abertay University, integrates videogames and immersive technologies, offering up to £50,000 in non-monetary support for collaborative R&D.
3. The programme's success lies in its unique delivery method: building partnerships, facilitating networks, and devolving powers to create innovation ecosystems.
4. The CICP has invested £56.8m in Creative Industries research and innovation in the UK since 2018, positioning cluster regions as global leaders in selected creative fields.
5. The CICP's focus on collaboration extends beyond the clusters themselves, engaging local and combined authorities, devolved governments, LEPs, and economic development agencies.
6. The CICP aims to turbocharge Research and Innovation within established creative clusters, foster innovation, and drive measurable economic growth.
7. The programme is involved in global conversations between the Global North and South, aiming to reorder the creative economy and unsettle existing structures.
8. The CICP's objectives include raising the number of businesses participating in R&D, increasing the capability of creative firms to develop new products, providing access to innovation infrastructure, and driving third-party investment into clusters and businesses.
9. The programme addresses sector-wide challenges, including AI, Intellectual Property and Regulation, Business Models and Access to Finance, Cross-cutting, Geography of the Creative Industries, International, Trade and Immigration, R&D and Innovation, Skills, Jobs and Education.
10. Higher education plays a crucial role in the Arts, Culture, and Heritage sectors, with researchers discussing class inequalities in film funding and the creative self-employed workforce, as well as the Equity Gap in Britain's Creative Industries.

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