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London’s creative economy gets a boost with new entrepreneurial hub

Award-winning games developer and inventor, Kam Star of Digital Shoreditch will speak at the official launch of Creativeworks London at City Hall on Monday 24 September.

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This new £4m-hub for academic knowledge and entrepreneurial skill will support small to medium-sized businesses in the capital in creative fields such as digital media, fashion and the visual arts. 

These Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) will benefit from free access to academic expertise to help them grow and succeed thanks to the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project, led by Queen Mary, University of London.

“The ‘Creative Economy’, which comprises artistic industries, museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions, contributes more than £50bn to the economy every year. However, London faces distinctive challenges as it attempts to sustain global competitiveness in the 'Creative Economy', particularly in terms of digital innovation,” explains Professor Evelyn Welch, the new Hub Director.

“SMEs are often responsible for driving innovation and competition,so whether an SME has already identified a problem that needs solving or would like to explore emerging markets or opportunities, Creativeworks London will have ways to support to carry out these activities,” adds Professor Welch, who is also Vice-Principal for Research and International Affairs at Queen Mary.

"Creativeworks London will be running a four year programme of activities to support new forms of exchange and collaborative research. It will run several key initiatives to support access to and support from the research community.  In addition to networking events these include Creative Vouchers where SMEs can access high quality arts and humanities researchers to develop project ideas to grow their business, also PhDs in residence and Entrepreneurs in residence schemes  where both communities can come together to foster entrepreneurial talent and stimulate innovation.  We believe that Business plus Knowledge equals Innovation," says Sally Taylor, Executive Director of The Culture Capital Exchange and Knowledge Exchange Director of the Hub.

Over the next four years, Creativeworks London will build new partnerships and commercial opportunities between academia and the creative industry sector.  The Hub will liaise with numerous industry partners including IBM and Digital Shoreditch, alongside major cultural institutions such as the V&A, BBC, the British Museum and the British Library.  

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