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New funding announced to drive immersive and technological innovation in West Midlands creative industries
Tuesday 13 May 2025
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Businesses and freelancers across the West Midlands will be able to apply for grants of up to £10,000 to develop and accelerate creative technologies in areas such as immersive experiences, gaming and live performance.
The grants form part of an initial £250,000 investment in the region’s creative industries through CreaTech Frontiers – a major five-year programme supported by £7.2 million from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
Coventry University is collaborating with Birmingham City University, University of Birmingham, University of Warwick and the Royal Shakespeare Company to support research, innovation and skills development, fuelling business growth in a region known for its young, diverse talent base and growing strength in creative technology.
The initiative is opening new opportunities for creative minds through the UK Research and Innovation’s Creative Industries Clusters Programme.
At the launch event, project leads outlined the programme’s vision for the coming months, highlighting upcoming funding opportunities and the availability of specialist PhDs and apprenticeships to develop skills. The Royal Shakespeare Company and Birmingham Opera Company will also be undertaking creative demonstrators and productions.
Successful applicants will receive a share of the funding alongside access to academic expertise, specialist labs and facilities provided by the CreaTech collaborators. Projects will need to align with one or more of the programme’s key areas: immersive experiences, enabling technologies, gaming, visual and digital arts, live performance and creative technology research.
These initial grants will give freelancers and small companies access to capital and to the research expertise and resources of CreaTech Frontiers to bring to life their most innovative ideas. It’s not just about developing new technologies; it’s about creating opportunities for companies to think how they can have cultural and social impact for the region.
There are a lot of companies and entrepreneurs already suggesting collaborations and wanting to apply. I'm delighted we're filling a gap that West Midlands businesses need.
Lamberto Coccioli, Professor at Birmingham City University and Director of CreaTech Frontiers
Over 175 years ago Coventry School of Design was founded by entrepreneurs and industrialists. Today, together with our regional partners, Coventry University are delighted to add collaborative research, development and innovation to our ongoing history of skills and enterprise support to the West Midlands creative economy. We look forward passionately to new createch collaborations and partnerships to boost the economic and social prosperity of the West Midlands.
Professor Nick Henry, Director of the Research Centre for Creative Economies, Coventry University, and Co-Director of CreaTech Frontiers
The West Midlands Combined Authority, which is backing the programme, believes the region’s gaming and content sectors alone could generate £65 million and 1,500 new jobs by 2030.
Applications are open from 2 June until 4 August 2025.
Register your interest and find out more about CreaTech Frontiers.
