digital media funding innovation centred funding for the digital media age… cannes, 21 may 2008...
TRANSCRIPT
Digital Media Funding
Innovation Centred Funding for the Digital Media Age…
Cannes, 21 May 2008
David Furmage
Digital Media Policy Lead &Screen, Image & Sound Cluster Manager
Regional Government, UK.
044 121 503 3397www.advantagewm.co.uk
…or why my region is spending €19m over 3 years on digital media
Presentation Outline..!
Profile of theWest Midlands
What is InnovationCentered Funding?
Keys to Success
Summary of ourfunding experience
Our Approach to Funding & Support
Defining ‘Digital Media’?
Lessons learnt and relevant thoughts for many…
West Midlands is a UK leader in digital media
Population 5.3 million9% of the UK population
Birmingham, 2nd City only to London
rich mix of communities with diverse cultural backgrounds
digital media … influences everbody’s lives
…from leisure and lifestyle…
…to business and communications……to business and communications…
digital media … influences everbody’s lives
…from leisure and lifestyle…
…to business and communications……to business and communications…
The creative and cultural sector is 10% of the West Midlands economy…
The creative and cultural sector is 10% of the West Midlands economy…
Regional Strengths in West Midlands…
20% UK Games Production
serious gamesUK hub, games based learning, virtual worlds, co-funded SGI
Regional Strengths in West Midlands…
Film active region For production
Film active region For production
20% UK Games Production
Interactive mediaTop New media agencies
serious gamesUK hub, games based learning, virtual worlds, co-funded SGI
Regional Strengths in West Midlands…
20% UK Games Production
Interactive mediaTop New media agencies
Talent. Higher education. Easy to reach. low costTalent. Higher education. Easy to reach. low cost
BIRMINGHAMmajor digital
hub for UK
MUSIC PRODUCTIONBirmingham top 5 global destination for diversity
serious gamesUK hub, games based learning, virtual worlds, co-funded SGI
Film active region For production
Film active region For production
What is Digital Media?
Digital television, digital radio, internet and mobile
One of those terms that has many meanings!
What is Digital Media?
Digital television, digital radio, internet and mobile
Screen, Image & Sound ClusterAll ‘digital creative industries’
Film, television, animation, interactive media, games, radio, music, digital imaging
What is Digital Media?
For our Digital Media and Innovation Funds it is …
Pix
el Le
arn
ing
Distribution platforms such as broadband, mobile and digital
broadcasting which have emerged in contrast to
traditional analogue broadcasting.
Includes internet based and mobile distribution
systems and technologies which permit a more complex,
interactive relationship and allow users to create, modify
and comment on content.
Public Service Broadcaster
in UK. Funded by adverts.
What is Digital Media?
For our Digital Media and Innovation Funds it is …
Digital new media includes…
Computer aided social networks
Pix
el Le
arn
ing
Distribution platforms such as broadband, mobile and digital
broadcasting which have emerged in contrast to
traditional analogue broadcasting.
Includes internet based and mobile distribution
systems and technologies which permit a more complex,
interactive relationship and allow users to create, modify
and comment on content.
Peer to peer and file sharing
technologies
Collaborative knowledge networks
Thought of as content, but can equally cover coding and technology creation
On-line Journalism
and Broadcasting
Imagined and alternative life
networksInteractiveLearning
and leisure
anything interesting
we’ve Missed..!
idea Journey from seed to product launch
Innovation needs to be built on solid foundations. We must get the basics right for businesses to grow... understanding…
…the journey
Our Approach to Funding & Support …
idea Journey from seed to product launch
To get the basics right … We have identified three ‘journeys’ that we must understand when setting policies…
SME Journey from start-up to maturity and growth
Information journey to navigate the opportunities and the support
understanding…
…the journey
Our Approach to Funding & Support …
our policies ensure funding roots clear for all these ‘journeys’
€5m film Fund €750K development Fundskills, education, festivals, archive, scripting, shorts… BIG GAP for a fund TO BACK ‘DIGITAL MEDIA’ GROWTH.
Bir
min
gham
Our Approach to Funding & Support …
… Screen Agency leads on ‘At Market’ Funds for projects, skills Development and business support…
Launching a Digital Media Fund
€50m 4IP Digital Media Fund launchedEnglish & welsh Commissioning hub in Birmingham
"to deliver publicly valuable content
and services on digital media platforms"
Public Service Broadcaster
in UK. Funded by adverts.
A lesson in Giving projects
enough resources to succeed
Bir
min
gham
Public Service Broadcaster
in UK. Funded by adverts.
€6.3m from AWM
€50m 4IP Fund launched by Channel 4.Includes €12.5m ring-fenced for West Midlands
Backing commercial potential, but not a VC Fund.
Open to other commercial and arts partners.
Launching a Digital Media Fund
Bir
min
gham
10 At Market
Com
merc
ial &
VC
TLR - Technology Readiness Levels
9 Final proving
5 Validation-real
2 Concept/application formulated
4 Validation-lab
1 Basic Principles
3 Proving concepts
6 Prototype demo-lab
8 Test and demo
7 Prototype demo-real
Univ
ers
ity
TSB
Clu
ster
Inn
ovati
on
Innovation Centred Funding Approach…
ALL FUNDING DISCUSSED SO FAR IS ‘AT MARKET’.INNOVATION NEEDS US TOTHINK WIDER - TLR SCALE
10 At Market
Com
merc
ial &
VC
TLR - Technology Readiness Levels
9 Final proving
5 Validation-real
2 Concept/application formulated
4 Validation-lab
1 Basic Principles
3 Proving concepts
6 Prototype demo-lab
8 Test and demo
7 Prototype demo-real
Univ
ers
ity
TSB
Clu
ster
Inn
ovati
on
Innovation Centred Funding Approach…
10 At Market
Com
merc
ial &
VC
TLR - Technology Readiness Levels
9 Final proving
5 Validation-real
2 Concept/application formulated
4 Validation-lab
1 Basic Principles
3 Proving concepts
6 Prototype demo-lab
7 Prototype demo-real
Univ
ers
ity
TSB
Clu
ster
Inn
ovati
on
Inn
ovati
on F
un
din
gPro
of
of
con
cep
t
Dig
ital M
edia
Fund
Near
Mark
et
Exp
loit
2.0
now
8 Test and demo
Innovation Centred Funding Approach…
10 At Market
Com
merc
ial &
VC
TLR - Technology Readiness Levels
9 Final proving
5 Validation-real
2 Concept/application formulated
4 Validation-lab
1 Basic Principles
3 Proving concepts
6 Prototype demo-lab
8 Test and demo
7 Prototype demo-real
Univ
ers
ity
TSB
Clu
ster
Inn
ovati
on
Film, DevelopmentOther Cluster
Innovation Centred Funding Approach…
Inn
ovati
on F
un
din
gPro
of
of
con
cep
t
Dig
ital M
edia
Fund
Near
Mark
et
Exp
loit
2.0
now
Keys to Success …
Development Fund€750K up to €70Kpilots, pitchesconditional loan
Links to and extendsBusiness linksupport framework
Most popular measure
with SME’s
Keys to Success …
Development Fund€750K up to €70Kpilots, pitchesconditional loan
Hot housing Ideas
Links to and extendsBusiness linksupport framework
Most popular measure
with SME’s Innovation Labs
Dare to be Digital
Competitions, hot-housing talent, 5 days to 10 weeks with payment to take part, mentored by industry
hot housing & mentoring
v effectivefor SME’s
Sustainable funding of these is a challenge…
We hope Our 3rd ‘Key’ will be the DIGITAL MEDIA FUND
In Summary… innovation centred funding
Create Funds with support
Give projects enough resources too succeed
Build on talent & strengths
Identify growth companies
In Summary… innovation centred funding
Create Funds with support
Give projects enough resources too succeed
Build on talent & strengths
Be flexible on short-term output measures
Identify growth companies
Build national and international collaboration
Give a chance to ideasthat make no sense!
