CITIN

The Technology Strategy Board decided to hold an open competition to find and appoint a new consortium to manage the newly created creative industries knowledge transfer network. Tiga and the University of the Arts London, Imperial College London and The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) who have joined forces are delighted with their successful winning bid. The network will stimulate innovation across all sectors of the creative industries and increase the pace of technology transfer. It will provide a range of activities and initiatives and bringing together amongst others, business, technology organisations and academia.

Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga, said:

“Tiga aims to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. I am delighted therefore that Tiga is part of the Creative Industries Technology Innovation Network (CITIN). Technological innovation is crucial to Tiga members. Our participation in the CITIN should help to disseminate best technological practice and innovation across the games development sector and our experience to date with delivering knowledge transfer and networking activities we hope will benefit and strengthen all of the creative industries.”

The creative industries is vast, not only does it include computer games, but also spans advertising, architecture, crafts, performing arts, TV & radio, film and video, designer fashion, software, music, design and publishing. As such it makes a significant contribution to the UK economy.

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Notes to editors:

1. Tiga is the national trade association that represents games developers in the UK and in Europe. We have 157 members, the majority of whom are games developers, but we also have outsourcing companies and technology businesses as members who provide services to games developers. Tiga’s vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. 2. For further information, please contact: Dr Richard Wilson, Tiga CEO on: 0845 0941095; Mob: 07875 939643; or: Email: richard.wilson@tiga.org.

3. The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its mission is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). For further information please visit http://www.innovateuk.org

4. Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) are national networks of technical experts and other interested parties, designed to improve the UK’s innovation performance by increasing and accelerating the knowledge transfer of technology into UK-based businesses. Their activities play an increasingly important role in the development of the Government’s technology strategy, and help to feed and drive the Collaborative Research & Development Programme and other innovation interventions. There are now 25 KTNs with a membership of around 30,000.

5. Within the overall objective of accelerating the rate of technology transfer into UK business, the specific aims of a Knowledge Transfer Network include (a) to deliver improved industrial performance through innovation and new collaborations by driving the flow of people, knowledge and experience between business and the science-base, between businesses and across sectors (b) to drive knowledge transfer between the supply and demand sides of technology-enabled markets through a high quality, easy to use service © to facilitate innovation and knowledge transfer by providing UK businesses with the opportunity to meet and network with individuals and organisations, in the UK and internationally, and (d) to provide a forum for a coherent business voice to inform government of its technology needs and about issues, such as regulation, which are enhancing or inhibiting innovation in the UK.

6. In addition to establishing the new network, the Technology Strategy Board is investing £10 million to support innovation across the UK’s creative industries. The Board announced in February that it will support innovative research and development projects that will exploit digital technologies to increase the competitiveness of the UK’s creative industries sector, with a particular focus on small and micro companies, with specially targeted schemes. For more information about this competition please visit http://www.technologyprogramme.org.uk