{"id":182255,"date":"2026-01-20T16:27:06","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T16:27:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta-ukri.msappproxy.net\/?post_type=news&#038;p=182255"},"modified":"2026-01-22T09:14:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T09:14:26","slug":"uk-research-and-innovation-launches-creative-industries-strategy","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/news\/uk-research-and-innovation-launches-creative-industries-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Research and Innovation launches creative industries strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Today, at the\u202fMusicFutures\u202fCreative Industries Cluster in Liverpool, Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray announced, the <a href=\"\/publications\/uk-research-and-innovation-rd-strategy-for-the-creative-and-cultural-economy\/\">strategy for the creative and cultural economy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The strategy will help UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) ensure its investments in the creative industries drive economic growth across the\u202fUK.<\/p>\n<p>Minister Murray also referenced\u202f\u00a3500\u202fmillion\u202fof funding for the creative industries, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a3369 million\u202fallocated\u202fto the creative industries by UKRI, of which \u00a3100 million is specifically\u202fallocated\u202fto supporting innovative companies<\/li>\n<li>\u00a325 million secured at the 2025 Spending Review by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to expand UKRI\u2019s\u202fCoSTAR\u202factivity<\/li>\n<li>\u00a3155 million to develop creative economy infrastructure through the\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/dissco-uk.org\/\">DiSSCo UK\u202f(Distributed System of Scientific Collections) programme<\/a>, an initiative to digitise the nation&#8217;s vast natural science collections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>DiSSCo UK is funded through the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and subject to final business case approval.<\/p>\n<h2>Transformative impact<\/h2>\n<p>Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray, said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>We\u2019ve seen the transformative impact that government investment has had on Liverpool City Region\u2019s music industry, helping innovative projects like MusicFutures flourish.<\/p>\n<p>In our Industrial Strategy, we committed to driving growth and building on the regional clusters of creativity that exist across the UK.<\/p>\n<p>I am pleased to launch the search for the next hotbeds of creative excellence to support.<\/p>\n<p>As part of a record settlement of research and development funding over the next three years and beyond, we are going to help artists, entrepreneurs and businesses up and down the country innovate with new technologies, attract investment and nurture talent.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Promoting growth<\/h2>\n<p>By focusing on\u202fwhich\u202finterventions promote growth, and where,\u202fUKRI\u2019s\u202fresearch and development (R&amp;D)\u202fstrategy for the creative and cultural economy\u202fwill drive:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the development of skilled workforce<\/li>\n<li>the adoption of\u202fnew\u202fcreatech<\/li>\n<li>advances in intellectual property\u202fpolicy\u202ffit for the age of artificial intelligence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More detailed delivery plans for the strategy will follow later in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>This comes a month after UKRI announced\u202fa\u202frecord\u202finvestment of\u202f\u00a3369 million\u202fin\u202fthe creative industries\u202fas part of\u202fits allocations for the spending review period 2026 to 2030.<\/p>\n<h2>Record investment<\/h2>\n<p>UKRI creative industries sector champion and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Executive Chair\u202fProfessor\u202fChristopher Smith said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>UKRI has confirmed a record investment in the creative industries because they are vital to the UK\u2019s prosperity and to driving economic growth through the industrial strategy.<\/p>\n<p>But for that scale of investment to deliver maximum benefit, we need to ensure it is used wisely and strategically.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s\u202fwhy we are today launching our R&amp;D Strategy for the Creative and Cultural Economy.<\/p>\n<p>It will focus on making the most of our world class\u202fCoSTAR\u202fNetwork and Creative Industries Clusters, and scaling and growing the businesses, talent, skills,\u202fpolicy\u202fand evidence we need to supercharge the sector.<\/p>\n<p>This strategy lays out the most connected and coherent investment we have ever made in the sector, building on past success, and will help us keep the creative and cultural sector at the heart of the UK economy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Fuelling creativity<\/h2>\n<p>Innovate UK Executive Chair, Tom\u202fAdeyoola\u202fsaid:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Everything from gaming to entertainment, music and the arts, fuel our collective creativity and support thousands of businesses and high-quality jobs across the UK.<\/p>\n<p>The launch of UKRI\u2019s R&amp;D Strategy for the Creative and Cultural Economy marks a significant moment for our creative industries, which represent both an important part of our economy and our cultural and national identity.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re\u202ffully committed to turning this strategy into real impact, helping to convert bold, creative breakthrough ideas into high potential businesses which start,\u202fscale\u202fand stay in the UK, and become the\u202findustry giants of tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>By streamlining access to funding and accelerating commercialisation of\u202fcutting-edge\u202ftechnologies, we will ensure opportunities reach regions and sub-sectors, driving inclusive growth and positioning the UK as the world\u2019s leading destination for creativity and innovation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Creative technology<\/h2>\n<p>UKRI has also published the <a href=\"\/publications\/future-avenues-for-createch-insights-and-recommendations\/\">Future avenues for\u202fcreatech\u202f\u2013 insights and recommendations report<\/a>, following a series of participatory workshops including academic and industry experts.<\/p>\n<p>Co-authored by the Creative PEC and CoSTAR Foresight Lab, the recommendations are intended to inform policy development and areas for future analysis and R&amp;D to maximise the growth potential of\u202fcreatech\u202fhave been\u202fidentified.<\/p>\n<p>The insights from this report will support delivery of the new strategy and the DCMS Creative Industries Sector Plan.<\/p>\n<h2>A national success<\/h2>\n<p>The UK\u2019s creative industries are a major UK success story, being worth over \u00a3124 billion per year and supporting thousands of jobs across the country.<\/p>\n<p>They are an important part of the government\u2019s modern industrial strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Through AHRC and Innovate UK,\u202fUKRI\u202fhas\u202fa track record\u202fof investing in research and innovation that underpins and supports the creative industries,\u202funlocking\u202feconomic growth and improving\u202flives.<\/p>\n<h2>Creative Clusters<\/h2>\n<p>A\u202fkey part of UKRI&#8217;s\u202fnew approach\u202fis its\u202f\u00a3100 million\u202fof\u202fadditional\u202finvestment in the\u202fCreative Industries Clusters, including a\u202fnew\u202f<a href=\"\/opportunity\/creative-industries-clusters-round-two-outline-stage\/\">\u00a327 million opportunity<\/a>\u202fthat opened on 5 January 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The Creative Industries Clusters were launched by\u202fAHRC in 2019 with a \u00a356 million investment\u202fin\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.discover.ukri.org\/research-and-innovation-powering-the-creative-industries\/index.html\">nine original clusters<\/a>\u202fbased\u202fin areas\u202facross the UK.<\/p>\n<p>The\u202fprogramme has\u202fsince\u202fsecured over \u00a3270 million in\u202ffurther\u202fpublic and private\u202finvestment, boosting\u202fthe\u202feconomy,\u202fcreating\u202fand safeguarding jobs,\u202fand\u202fdemonstrating\u202fthe power of the creative industries to improve lives.<\/p>\n<h2>Connecting artists, entrepreneurs, and researchers<\/h2>\n<p>MusicFutures, one of two new clusters announced in 2024,\u202fis led by the University of Liverpool in partnership with Liverpool John\u202fMoores\u202fUniversity.<\/p>\n<p>Its mission is to drive breakthroughs in technology, sustainability, and creativity.<\/p>\n<p>By connecting artists, entrepreneurs, and researchers,\u202fMusicFutures\u202fis shaping a more\u202fequitable, sustainable, and globally competitive future for the Liverpool City Region and UK music industry.<\/p>\n<h2>Research and exploration<\/h2>\n<p>The other cluster announced in 2024, CreaTech Frontiers in the West Midlands, is led by Birmingham City University with Coventry University, delivered by a consortium of six core partners that includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coventry University<\/li>\n<li>the Royal Shakespeare Company<\/li>\n<li>the University of Birmingham<\/li>\n<li>the University of Warwick<\/li>\n<li>Digital Catapult<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Its focus is developing the region\u2019s micro and small and medium-sized businesses specialising in research and exploration of creative technologies like video games, virtual production and immersive reality.<\/p>\n<h2>Developing new entertainment technology<\/h2>\n<p>UKRI\u2019s other investments in the creative industries include the \u00a375.6 million\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.costarnetwork.co.uk\/\">Convergent screen technologies and performance in\u202frealtime\u202f(CoSTAR)\u202fprogramme<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>CoSTAR\u202fis a national research and development network of laboratories developing\u202fnew technology\u202fto\u202fmaintain\u202fthe UK\u2019s world-leading position in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>gaming<\/li>\n<li>TV<\/li>\n<li>film<\/li>\n<li>performance<\/li>\n<li>digital entertainment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The\u202fCoSTAR\u202fprogramme supports new innovations and experiences that will enrich UK\u2019s creative industries, economy, and culture.<\/p>\n<p>UKRI will also invest in high-level skills via doctoral awards and embedded academic and industry placements, and in evidence including through continued investment in the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":182515,"template":"","categories":[48,52,47,90],"tags":[],"wf_news_folders":[],"class_list":["post-182255","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ahrc","category-innovate-uk","category-sticky","category-ukri"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/182255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/182255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":182609,"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/182255\/revisions\/182609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/182515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=182255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=182255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=182255"},{"taxonomy":"wf_news_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ukri.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_news_folders?post=182255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}