New funding for creative and science sectors from UKRI

In the past week the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) released two new funding announcements to boost the creative and science sectors.

Creative industries benefit from projects valued at £75.6m

UKRI’s creative industries investments support research and innovation across the sector, including film, TV and gaming, fashion and heritage.

Pinewood Studios, the British Film Institute (BFI) and Northern Ireland Screen are among the partners at projects sharing £75.6 million.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) Convergent Screen Technologies and performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) network supplies the funding. This council boosts the UK’s screen and performance sectors.

The CoSTAR network consists of a national lab and experimental studio fitted with real-time digital technologies. At the present time three network labs operate across the UK, with an insight and foresight unit (IFU).

Simultaneously, at least £50 million of further funding is renewing the Creative Industries Clusters Programme (CICP). This investment funds at least six new clusters, boosting the economy in new regions and sectors and pioneering cutting-edge technology.

The nine existing clusters generated £252 million of co-investment. The clusters support over 2,500 businesses and 60 research organisations. In addition they train over 3,500 industry professionals and academics.

New network to maximise research and innovation funding impact

UKRI is investing £7 million to establish the Innovation and Research Caucus (IRC) as a world leading centre of excellence in research and innovation funding.

This supports UKRI’s significant contribution to realising the goals of the UK Science and Technology Framework. Above all the funding delivers greater societal and economic benefits from research and innovation.

The IRC is funded by UKRI via the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Innovate UK.

Leaders issue Atlantic Declaration

The UK Government has also agreed an economic partnership with the United States, which includes Research collaboration to entrench UK and US leadership in the most important future technologies – AI, future telecoms (5G & 6G), quantum, semiconductors and engineering biology.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak annaounced details of the ‘Atlantic Declaration’ with US President Joe Biden.

Its unsurprising that a lot of attention is being paid to the importance of critical technologies, climate change and the challenges of AI. Moreover, these two new funding announcements will help to reinforce the UK's position as a leading research destination.

Register for the latest funding email updates by subscribing to Postgraduate Studentships.