The document discusses the development of the digital media sector in the West Midlands region of the UK. It outlines recent achievements like funding programs for film, games, and digital media. It proposes launching a £5 million Digital Media Fund to back commercial growth in the region. The presentation seeks feedback on priorities for resources and on simplifying business support and targeting high-growth digital markets.

1. Screen Image & Sound Cluster Developing the digital media sector in the West Midlands Drive 3 Programme, 3rd June 2008 David Furmage Digital Media Policy Lead & Screen, Image & Sound Cluster Manager Regional Government, UK. 044 121 503 3397 www.advantagewm.co.uk [email_address]

2. Presentation Outline.. Profile & recent achievements Digital Media Fund & Defining ‘digital’ Innovation Funding & Keys to Success Your Feedback & top Priorities for Resources Simplified Business Support & Products Target Markets & Strategic Priorities

3. West Midlands is a UK leader in digital media Population 5.3 million 9% of the UK population Birmingham, 2 nd City only to London rich mix of communities with diverse cultural backgrounds

4. digital media … influences everbody’s lives … from leisure and lifestyle… … to business and communications…

5. digital media … influences everbody’s lives … from leisure and lifestyle… … to business and communications… The creative and cultural sector is 10% of the West Midlands economy…

6. Regional Strengths in West Midlands… 20% UK Games Production serious games UK hub, games based learning, virtual worlds, co-funded SGI

7. Regional Strengths in West Midlands… Film active region For production 20% UK Games Production Interactive media Top New media agencies serious games UK hub, games based learning, virtual worlds, co-funded SGI

8. Regional Strengths in West Midlands… 20% UK Games Production Interactive media Top New media agencies Talent. Higher education. Easy to reach. low cost BIRMINGHAM major digital hub for UK MUSIC PRODUCTION Birmingham top 5 global destination for diversity serious games UK hub, games based learning, virtual worlds, co-funded SGI Film active region For production

9. Recent Achievements… £7m SGI & Serious Virtual Worlds Conference

10. Recent Achievements… £4m Film Fund ‘ Confetti’ first 15% £7m SGI & Serious Virtual Worlds Conference £600K Development film, tv, digital £5m Digital Media commercial, art, Ch4 Channel 4 national commissioning hub for 4IP

11. Recent Achievements… £4m Film Fund ‘ Confetti’ first 15% £7m SGI & Digital Event Oct 2008 creative cities 50% in Birmingham Creative Space, Hubs… Serious Virtual Worlds Conference £600K Development film, tv, digital £5m Digital Media commercial, art, Ch4 Channel 4 national commissioning hub for 4IP European Regions in top 5

12. Recent Achievements… £4m Film Fund ‘ Confetti’ first 15% £7m SGI & Digital Event Oct 2008 ITC £800K IDM poc, demo, champions creative cities 50% in Birmingham Creative Space, Hubs… Serious Virtual Worlds Conference £600K Development film, tv, digital £5m Digital Media commercial, art, Ch4 Channel 4 national commissioning hub for 4IP European Regions in top 5 1045 business assists 137 new businesses created 232 jobs created/safeguarded 40 people helped into jobs 218 people up-skilled 140 knowledge base collaborations Others… games, music

13. Digital Media … vertical and horizontal film tv games web serious games aerospace automotive business professional government health military creative strengthen cluster companies digital media as a horizontal enabler

14. Digital Media … vertical and horizontal film tv games web serious games aerospace automotive business professional government health military creative strengthen cluster companies digital media as a horizontal enabler

15. Cluster targets high growth markets… Digital Content for Entertainment new business models, new content types Digital Lifestyle innovating new forms of digital media for citizens, tourists and business

16. Cluster targets high growth markets… Digital Content for Entertainment new business models, new content types Exploit Web 2.0 & Serious Games virtual worlds, immersive education, mash-ups data simulation, new communities, use it, sell it! Digital Lifestyle innovating new forms of digital media for citizens, tourists and business Create New Markets in digital media - with a sense of urgency using 4IP, ICT, TSB, European VC, HE…

17. Strategic Priorities…Building Success influence digital media raise profile, = more £p encourage innovation develop new markets

18. Strategic Priorities…Building Success influence digital media raise profile, = more £p encourage innovation develop new markets support sector focused business and skills support signposting, networks build supply chains improve regional data and intelligence

19. Strategic Priorities…Building Success influence digital media raise profile, = more £p encourage innovation develop new markets support sector focused business and skills support signposting, networks build supply chains improve regional data and intelligence Innovation Technology Council Technology Strategy Board Access to Finance

20. Our Approach to Funding & Support … idea Journey from seed to product launch Innovation is the key to growth. But we must build on solid foundations, getting the basics right for business growth… understanding… … the journey

21. 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 policies ensure funding roots clear for all these ‘journeys’

22. Business Simplification Programme - BSSP Streamlining publicly funded support for SME’s Easier to understand and access Better value for public money Measurable economic impact and policy goals ANYTHING WE DO REGIONALLY MUST DOVETAIL WITH BSSP NATIONALLY www.berr.gov.uk/bbf/index.html

23. Business Simplification Programme - BSSP Streamlining publicly funded support for SME’s Easier to understand and access Better value for public money Measurable economic impact and policy goals ANYTHING WE DO REGIONALLY MUST DOVETAIL WITH BSSP NATIONALLY www.berr.gov.uk/bbf/index.html Business Link will lead on delivery: Diagnostic/brokerage, 4 levels: information transactional, intermediate, transformational Screen WM and other support must extend not duplicate the core offer and dovetail with Business Link

24. Business Simplification Programme - Products New simpler range of business support products fully introduced by 2010 AWM and Business Link funding, including monies to Screen WM, etc., must fit one of these product categories Available during 2008: Export Credit Guarantee Skills Solutions for Business Capital Investment Preparing to Export Investigating New Overseas Markets Getting the most from Foreign Direct Investment Business Collaboration Networks Shared Business Support Environments

25. Business Simplification Programme PRODUCTS New simpler range of business support products fully introduced by 2010 AWM and Business Link funding, including monies to Screen WM, etc., must fit one of these product categories Available from 2009: Debt Finance Risk Capital Finance Awareness & Capability Business Creation Business expertise for Growth Promoting Resource Efficiency & Sustainable Waste Management Protecting the Natural Environment Local Community Business Coaching Innovation Finance & Innovation Collaboration 17 Products. Funding NOT guaranteed

26. Specific Sector Support… € 5m film Fund € 750K development Fund skills, education, festivals, archive, scripting, shorts… BIG GAP for a fund TO BACK ‘DIGITAL MEDIA’ GROWTH. Birmingham … Screen Agency leads on ‘At Market’ Funds for projects, skills Development and business support… Business Link’s Creative and Digital Industries team work with others for the intermediate and transformational brokerage…

27. Launching a Digital Media Fund £30m 4IP Digital Media Fund launched English & 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 Birmingham

28. Launching a Digital Media Fund Public Service Broadcaster in UK. Funded by adverts. £5m from AWM £30m 4IP Digital Media Fund launched Includes £10m ring-fenced for West Midlands Backing commercial potential, but not a VC Fund. Open to other commercial and arts partners. Birmingham

29. What is Digital Media? Digital television, digital radio, internet and mobile One of those terms that has many meanings!

30. What is Digital Media? Digital television, digital radio, internet and mobile Screen, Image & Sound Cluster All ‘digital creative industries’ Film, television, animation, interactive media, games, radio, music, digital imaging

31. What is Digital Media? For our Digital Media and Innovation Funds it is … Pixel Learning 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.

32. What is Digital Media? For our Digital Media and Innovation Funds it is … Digital new media includes… Computer aided social networks Pixel Learning 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 networks Interactive Learning and leisure anything interesting we’ve Missed..!

33. Innovation Centred Funding Approach… 10 At Market Commercial & 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 University TSB Cluster Innovation MOST FUNDING IS ‘AT MARKET’ INNOVATION NEEDS US TO THINK WIDER - TLR SCALE

34. Innovation Centred Funding Approach… 10 At Market Commercial & 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 University TSB Cluster Innovation

35. Innovation Centred Funding Approach… 10 At Market Commercial & 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 University TSB Cluster Innovation Innovation Funding Proof of concept Digital Media Fund Near Market Exploit 2.0 now 8 Test and demo £1m £10m+ £.75m ACF

36. Innovation Centred Funding Approach… 10 At Market Commercial & 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 University TSB Cluster Innovation Film, Development Other Cluster Innovation Funding Proof of concept Digital Media Fund Near Market Exploit 2.0 now £10m+ £.75m £1m £4m, £.6m £.5m, £1.5m ACF

37. Keys to Success … Development Fund £600K up to £50K pilots, pitches conditional loan Links to and extends Business link support framework Most popular measure with SME’s

38. Keys to Success … Development Fund £600K up to £50K pilots, pitches conditional loan Hot housing Ideas Links to and extends Business link support 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 effective for SME’s Sustainable funding of these is a challenge… We hope Our 3rd ‘Key’ will be the DIGITAL MEDIA FUND

39. In Summary… innovation centred funding Create Funds with support Give projects enough resources too succeed Build on talent & strengths Identify growth companies

40. 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 ideas that make no sense!

41. West Midlands…the heart of digital media thank you for listening! [email_address] and now over to YOU Q&A and…

42. Presentation Outline.. Profile & recent achievements Digital Media Fund & Defining ‘digital’ Innovation Funding & Keys to Success Your Feedback & top Priorities for Resources Simplified Business Support & Products Target Markets & Strategic Priorities