NESTA supporting UK digital media companies through the BBC Innovation Labs
15/11/2006
"Innovation Labs is a way for us to get to know the range of talented independent companies across the UK, and to share with them our strategies and innovation requirements."
The Labs are a series of events bringing together BBC Commissioners and digital media companies to develop and commission innovative new products and services for the BBC.
New media companies in four UK regions - Scotland, Northern England, Southern England and London - are being invited to pitch ideas in response to a series of briefs from commissioners across the BBC. Ten companies in each region will be invited to a week-long residential Innovation Lab, working with BBC developers, NESTA mentors, and other industry experts to develop their ideas into concept prototypes.
The Labs conclude with an opportunity for the prototypes to be pitched to BBC commissioners, who will be offering further development commissions for the best ideas at each Lab. In addition, NESTA is providing business growth and investment advice for the participating companies.
The Labs are a collaborative project together with 10 regional agencies, including Scottish Enterprise, London Development Agency, North-West Vision, CodeWorks, Screen Yorkshire, EM Media, South-East Media Network, Digital Central, SW Screen and Screen East.
Matt Locke, Head of Innovation, said: "Innovation Labs is a way for us to get to know the range of talented independent companies across the UK, and to share with them our strategies and innovation requirements. The pilots in 2005/6 were a great success, generating over 170 ideas, with 29 companies attending the week-long Labs, and 13 projects being selected for further development beyond the Labs.
"We've also made some changes to improve the Labs this year, extending the programme to more regions, including briefs from more departments across the BBC, and streamlining the commissioning process after the Labs themselves. The Labs is a very collaborative and creative experience for the BBC and the independent sector, so we're looking forward to seeing the ideas from the 2006/7 programme, and hopefully will be extending it across the whole of the UK in 2007/8."
Roland Harwood, Project Leader of NESTA Connect, said "The BBC Innovation Labs is a great example of how a large organisation and small companies can collaborate to foster new innovations, so we are delighted to be supporting the participating companies this year in this important programme."
From Oct 26th to Nov 27th, there will be a series of 13 launch events in the four UK regions to which interested companies are invited. There, they will learn more about the new briefs, receive more information about the BBC's new media strategy and technological infrastructure, and give an opportunity for regional independent production companies to meet BBC commissioners and ask questions about the kind of projects the BBC is looking for this year.
Find out more about BBC Innovation Labs
For further information, please contact Nicola Kane on 0207 645 9638 or email nicola.kane@nesta.org.uk
NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, is working to transform the UK's capacity for innovation. Our endowed funds of over £300m allow us to be a genuine risk-funder, to take a longer-term view and invest in the most promising new ideas and ventures. Underpinning our work is the fundamental view that successful innovation fuels long-term economic and social progress, and is an essential ingredient to the UK maintaining its competitive edge in the global market place.