Strategies  for  Growth  for  Crea0ve  Digital  Clusters:  The  Road  to  Bournemouth  Pier

Steve Brewer, David Rees

Media School, Bournemouth University, 30 April, 2014

                                                                                               

Agenda

•  Background: the Digital Economy & ITaaU

•  The emergence of creative digital clusters

•  Characteristics of clusters

•  Transformational challenges

•  Emergent ideas and challenges

•  What happens next?

IT as a Utility funded under Research Council UK's Digital Economy theme

The  Digital  Economy  vision  is  of  the  transforma5onal  impact  of  digital  technologies  on  all  aspects  of  life.    

The Digital Economy and ITaaU

The  Cloud  

food security traditional

utilities

cloud computing

sensors & actuators

telecommunications

data-driven science

electronic lab notebooks

“Network+ smart spaces/ smart  ci)es”  

libraries of the future

“tangible Interfaces”

“apps are the new taps…”

3D printing

Approach: Network+ & Hub model  

•  ITaaU one of 4 sub-themes of the Research Councils UK Digital Economy programme

•  The Digital Economy vision is of the transformational impact of digital technologies on all aspects of life

•  £138 million invested since 2008 by RCUK •  Other Networks: Sustainable Society, Communities

and Culture & New Economic Models •  Hubs: dot.rural, SiDE and Horizon •  Centres for Doctoral Training

Aims and objectives •  Unite researchers, users, content and data providers

•  Understand how and why businesses and consumers

are using on-demand services

•  Understand the provision, uptake, usability, security,

of apps and services delivered in the future Internet

•  Champion simple, usable and safe IT provision from

smart services, surroundings and information stores

•  Identify perceived barriers that inhibit new users

•  Apps for Healthcare – 7 May •  User Experience/User Interface Design Workshop – 8 May

•  Delivering Food Security: from the Cloud to the App – 13 May

•  Data as a Utility, Analytics as a Service – 9 June

•  Emerging Economies: International Perspectives

•  Platforms for Media Production •  Smart Spaces (Cities) and Diversity

•  Libraries of the Future

•  3D printing

•  Human Data Interaction

Interdisciplinary projects up to £50,000:

•  Playable  Ci/es    •  Personal  propensity  profile  for  risk    •  Integrated  infrastructure    •  Libraries  of  the  Future    •  Social  inclusion    •  Social  cohesion  and  governance    •  Emerging  economies

THIRD CALL OPEN

CLOSING: 9 MAY!

Emerging topics Strong sub-theme are emerging as areas for further investigation:

•  Information transformation services – identify and promote

•  Transition: revelation è innovationè specialist tool/resource è utility (where is service in this sequence?)

•  Designing web to be accessible to those with intellectual disabilities , dyslexia etc…

•  Academic eLearning use and development in developing world

•  Assistive technologies for older people to use Web 2.0

•  Health ICT in developing countries – efforts to improve / build

•  Trust and security important but perception is key to success

Join the ITaaU Network+

•  Web: www.itutility.ac.uk

•  Mailing list: http://jiscmail.ac.uk/itutility •  Hashtag #itaaun

•  Twitter: SteveITaaU

•  Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ITutilityNetwork

•  Email: info@itutility.ac.uk

•  LinkedIn group: IT-as-Utility-Network

The emergence of creative digital clusters  

•  The  Shorditch  narra/ve:    – Outsiders,  theatre,  weavers,  YBA,  TechCity  

•  Soho,  Brighton,  Bristol  – Bohemian,  crea/ve,  digital  – Transi/onal  process  – Culture  and  business  merged  

Platforms for Media Production

•  Many technological options available: –  devices, networks, clouds and grids

•  Usability and reliability paramount –  Users not developers, unlike High Energy Physicists

•  Utilities or services? Platforms or proprietary?

•  How important is state of the art? –  Flexibility and/or security?

•  UNISON/Comnet – test beds and evaluation –  Community engagement sought (9 May – London w/s)

Characteristics of clusters  

•  Density  – Google  effect,  planning  support,  low  rents  

•  Momentum  – Growth,  development,  success  breeds  success  

•  Buzz  – Dissemina/on,  notoriety,  stories,  success  breeds  success  

City network architecture: Bristol

Prof Dimitra Simeonidou, High Performance Networks, Bristol (Software defined networking (SDN) test beds available)

Bournemouth Digital Pier

Short scoping study for ESRC.

Inspired by Brighton Fuse (CDIT)

Recommendations:

1.  Strategic model options

2.  Regional support network

3.  Workshops and pilot projects

4.  Promotion and dissemination

Planning for autumn conference: audience, agenda and goals

•  2 days v. 1 day? •  Target audience:

researchers, practitioners, policy makers?

•  Bournemouth? •  Dates to aim for/avoid

!

Business models for hybrid clusters: the transformational challenge

by David Rees, Henley Business School,

University of Reading

Expanded from the Bournemouth Digital Pier report for the ESRC

© Henley Business School 2014 www.henley.reading.ac.uk

A Bournemouth Conurbation World Class Creative Digital Hub The Transformational Challenge

TRANSFORMATION AT INDUSTRY LEVEL – a Contemporary Challenge

How do you transform this…… Into this……..?

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Anchored  CDIT  Hub

Dominant Large Corporate(s)

Dependent on onemajor client

Anchored  CDIT  Hub

Dominant Large Corporate(s)

Dependent on onemajor client

Evolution of individuals and small enterprisesinto a cluster of connected businesses

Internal Infrastructure

Internal Infrastructure

Strategic Initiative

Inorganic  Cluster  HubStrategic Initiative

Infrastructure Development

Structured Growth Plan

Strategic Initiative

Infrastructure Development

Strategic Initiative

University  Linked  Technology  Enterprise  Hubs

University

Technology Enterprise Centre

R&D Partners

Companies

Smallenterprisecluster

Multiple  Hubs

Grass Roots CDIT Hub

Organic Cluster Hub

Media  City,  Salford  Quays  

“Build bridges as well as towers” NESTA Creative Clusters and Innovation report

PMQs – CDIT local expertise

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b03xkq7l/

Conor Burns also a key advocate on committee for Culture, Media and Sport

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Transformational Approach

Wedge Shaped Approach

Top-Down Approach

Bottom-Up Approach

Bi-Polar Approach

Pilot Projects

Identification of key factors for a thriving creative digital economy

•  “Create bridges” across locations & countries ✪

•  London poised to become Europe’s leading hub: talent, capital and connectivity ✪

•  Density key to success, eg. Tech City (1,300 firms) ✪

✪ Eze Vidra – Head of Google for Entrepreneurs and Campus London

References  •  Bournemouth  Digital  Pier  

–  hOp://www.itu/lity.ac.uk/files/2014/01/Bournemouth_CDIT_feasibility_study.pdf  

•  Crea/ve  clusters  and  innova/on:  puWng  crea/vity  on  the  map  –  NESTA  Nov  2010  

–  hOp://www.nesta.org.uk/sites/default/files/crea/ve_clusters_and_innova/on.pdf  

•  Producing  the  Future:  Understanding  Watershed’s  Role  in  Ecosystems  of  Cultural  Innova/on  

–  hOp://www.watershed.co.uk/sites/default/files/publica/ons/2011-­‐03-­‐15/Watershed_IFF_Report_online.pdf  

•  The  Brighton  Fuse  –  final  report  –  hOp://www.brightonfuse.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/2013/10/The-­‐Brighton-­‐Fuse-­‐Final-­‐Report.pdf  

Emergent ideas and challenges

•  The geography of creativity •  Identifying latent clusters •  Networks and networking •  Nurturing talent •  Collaboration/appropriation trade-off •  Uncomplicated organisations in

complicated spaces – Watershed •  How to measure value?

Bournemouth Digital Pier: recommendations

1.  Real-time programme of research 2.  Strategic model options 3.  Regional CDIT support network 4.  Programme of workshops 5.  Pilot projects 6.  Short-term secondments 7.  Promotion and dissemination