Creative industries present huge opportunity for export growth
New research published today by Creative PEC shows that the creative industries present a huge opportunity for export growth.
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R&D and Innovation
Universities vital for driving regional creative industries growth and innovation
New research published today by the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) reveals the vital role universities play in supporting place-based growth and innovation.
Creative Clusters, Geography and University-Industry Links
This new report provides updated estimates on the spatial distribution of creative industries activity at the regional and cluster level.
Creative PEC response to the AI and Copyright Inquiry
Read Creative PEC’s submission to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee’s AI and Copyright Inquiry.
Harnessing the growth potential of createch
This insights paper summarises existing evidence on the present opportunities and challenges in creative technology.
Support for R&D and Innovation in Creative Industries Micro Firms
New research shows creative industries micro firms are more likely to engage in R&D than firms in other sectors.
Analysis of over 168 million job postings suggests that Generative AI has not reduced demand for creativity skills
AI is redefining rather than replacing the need for creativity, according to new research published today.
Taking stock of the Creative Industries Sector Plan
We summarise some of the key sector-wide announcements from the Creative Industries Sector Plan.
What does the 2025 Spending Review mean for the creative industries?
A read out from Creative PEC Bernard Hay and Emily Hopkins On Wednesday 11th June the UK Government published its Spending Review, which outlines UK Government departmental budgets for day-to-day… Read More »What does the 2025 Spending Review mean for the creative industries?
Creative PEC response to the AI and Copyright Consultation
Read the Government Submission on AI and Copyright from Creative PEC.
What can we learn about the innovation performance of the Creative Industries from the UK Innovation Survey?
Creative PEC launches new research exploring how the creative industries participate in innovation activities including: R&D, investment, product and service development, environmental benefits and business strategy. The report, produced by… Read More »What can we learn about the innovation performance of the Creative Industries from the UK Innovation Survey?
Growth Finance for Creative Industries
A Creative PEC State of the Nations report Re-imagining growth finance could boost the creative economy and help tackle regional inequality in support of the UK’s Government’ s growth mission.… Read More »Growth Finance for Creative Industries
State of the Nations Report launch: Growth Finance for Creative Industries
Wednesday 16th October 2024 | 12noon | Online via Zoom.
Join us for the launch of our fifth report in the State of the Nations series
Autumn Statement 2023 – Creative PEC’s representation
The Autumn Statement presents an opportunity for the government to supercharge its plans laid out in the Creative Industries Sector Vision to grow the creative industries by £50 billion and… Read More »Autumn Statement 2023 – Creative PEC’s representation
Geographies of Creativity
A Creative PEC State of the Nations report Place matters when it comes to creativity. Where do creative clusters arise and what can policymakers do to optimise intervention? This first… Read More »Geographies of Creativity
Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s British Film and High-End Television Inquiry
Creative PEC’s Response Executive Summary In this submission, the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) addresses several of the questions posed by the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS)… Read More »Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s British Film and High-End Television Inquiry
Estimating the Contribution of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) R&D to Creative Industries R&D
The UK’s creative industries are hugely innovative; PEC research has suggested that over two-thirds of creative industries businesses conduct R&D. But despite this, uptake of R&D tax credits, which encourage business… Read More »Estimating the Contribution of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) R&D to Creative Industries R&D
Creative spillovers: Do the creative industries benefit firms in the wider economy?
The creative industries are a force for innovation in the UK. Firms in the creative industries (CIs) are considerably more likely to engage in innovation-generating activities and to have introduced… Read More »Creative spillovers: Do the creative industries benefit firms in the wider economy?
The networked shift: A creative industries foresight study
The near future of the creative industries will be a networked shift Digital tools and processes are already enabling creative practitioners and audiences to reconfigure their outputs and interests in… Read More »The networked shift: A creative industries foresight study
The PEC’s response to the 2023 Spring Budget
The creative industries are a vital part of the UK economy. There are, however, some continued challenges that limit the sector’s growth. Yesterday’s Spring Budget addressed a number of these critical… Read More »The PEC’s response to the 2023 Spring Budget
Understanding createch R&D
This report makes for a timely contribution for UK policymakers as they revisit growth priorities for the creative industries. Createch is a term that has been used broadly to characterise… Read More »Understanding createch R&D
The role of the university in enhancing creative clusters
Universities are important for driving growth in their local creative industries. At the same time, the creative industries is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and in… Read More »The role of the university in enhancing creative clusters
What distinguishes creative industry exporters? And does engaging in innovation, R&D and design matter?
Post-Brexit, the UK government is keen to accelerate UK exporting, including in creative goods and services. To best support and expand exporting, it is vital to better understand the characteristics… Read More »What distinguishes creative industry exporters? And does engaging in innovation, R&D and design matter?
New research suggests regulation could actually enhance user-creativity on the platform giants
Video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, and TikTok provide a free space for everyone to share their content. They claim they have developed an ideal place for user creativity because… Read More »New research suggests regulation could actually enhance user-creativity on the platform giants
Eight things to know about the Creative Industries
What are the Creative Industries? The Creative Industries are a diverse and complex sector made up of a variety of sub-sectors, from performing arts to computer games, and graphic design… Read More »Eight things to know about the Creative Industries
Creative Clusters Case Studies
Creative Clusters – Case Studies The creative clusters in these case studies share some common factors that can lead to success. For example, the role performed by ‘anchor institutions’ (often… Read More »Creative Clusters Case Studies
How Research and Innovation can help level-up the Creative Industries
The Levelling-Up White Paper produced by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities notes that ideas and innovation are key drivers for rebalancing the economy. Since 2018, UKRI’s £56.8m Creative Industries Clusters Programme (CICP) has… Read More »How Research and Innovation can help level-up the Creative Industries
Culture in quarantine? Cultural institutions’ uses of Twitter during lockdown
Cultural institutions, such as museums and galleries, are important for local communities. They are places that preserve and promote cultural heritage, and can be sources of familiarity, inspiration and pride. … Read More »Culture in quarantine? Cultural institutions’ uses of Twitter during lockdown
Starving the golden goose? Access to finance for innovators in the creative industries
Please note: this paper has been accepted in Journal of Cultural Economics, DOI: 10.1007/s10824-022-09448-5 This problem can make it hard for creative industries firms to secure funding and investment into Research… Read More »Starving the golden goose? Access to finance for innovators in the creative industries
Press Release: R&D should be at the heart of government thinking on the Creative Industries
New Policy Briefing, Research and Industry Insight from the PEC The government has rightly placed boosting R&D at the heart of its growth strategy for the UK and for levelling… Read More »Press Release: R&D should be at the heart of government thinking on the Creative Industries
Policy Briefing: R&D in the Creative Industries
The creative industries are one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK economy. One in eight UK businesses are part of the creative industries, and together they contributed almost… Read More »Policy Briefing: R&D in the Creative Industries
Key Facts About R&D in the Creative Industries
R&D plays a key role in the innovation processes of many businesses, and is also a driver of economic growth at the local, regional and national level. For this reason,… Read More »Key Facts About R&D in the Creative Industries
Agile innovation funding is the solution for the UK Creative Industries
In 2020, during the height of the first Covid wave, Innovate UK ran a multi-million pound funding competition, supported by the Treasury, to support business-led innovation projects to respond to… Read More »Agile innovation funding is the solution for the UK Creative Industries
A new age for the creative industries…and the UK
Back in October last year, Peter Bazalgette, Chair of ITV, made an inspiring speech where he argued that “the Creative Industries has now come of age.” Seen as a fledgling… Read More »A new age for the creative industries…and the UK
The art of R&D
The government has committed to increasing the amount of public money spent on research and development (R&D). Historically, R&D funding has gone towards economic sectors such as science, health and… Read More »The art of R&D
Spotlight on Creative R&D: a week of research and policy
A week of research, briefs and blogs into how we can make R&D work for the Creative Industries There is a reason the creative industries are growing so fast –… Read More »Spotlight on Creative R&D: a week of research and policy
Creative R&D: where are we now?
It’s five years since Nesta first identified “Creative R&D” as a distinct and distinctive form of innovation happening inside the UK Creative Industries. Released whilst a new wave of public investments like UKRI’s… Read More »Creative R&D: where are we now?
How lessons from UKRI’s Creative Industries Challenge Programmes should transform the way we invest in R&D
After 20 years of evidence gathering, the economic importance of the Creative Industries is widely recognised. Before the pandemic, the sector contributed over £115 billion to the country’s economy –… Read More »How lessons from UKRI’s Creative Industries Challenge Programmes should transform the way we invest in R&D
Pivot to digital: How museums and galleries responded to COVID-19
As the UK went into full lockdown in March 2020, museums and galleries were faced with the prospect of having no visitors and limited audiences for the foreseeable future. As… Read More »Pivot to digital: How museums and galleries responded to COVID-19
PEC’s comment on the 2021 Spending Review and Autumn Budget
The UK’s creative industries – from film to fashion, and from video games to the performing arts – are integral to local communities throughout the country. This is in part because… Read More »PEC’s comment on the 2021 Spending Review and Autumn Budget
Investment into R&D will be vital for the recovery of creative and cultural organisations
The summer and autumn of 2021 has been busy for those researching the impacts of the pandemic on the creative and cultural sector in the UK. Two major reports have… Read More »Investment into R&D will be vital for the recovery of creative and cultural organisations
PEC’s Representation to the Autumn Spending Review
The UK’s creative industries – from film to fashion, and from video games to the performing arts – are integral to local communities throughout the country. This is in part… Read More »PEC’s Representation to the Autumn Spending Review
Createch activity in the UK
Createch is an emerging field that combines technology and creativity in novel ways. This report is a foundational piece of research that examines where createch businesses are in the UK,… Read More »Createch activity in the UK
Cultural brokerage and creative clusters
Future Screens NI and levelling-up in a pandemic environment Future Screens NI is one of nine creative clusters in the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Creative Industries Clusters Programme, of which… Read More »Cultural brokerage and creative clusters
Mapping the R&D landscape for creative technologies
Creative technologies (“CreaTech”) will play an increasingly big role driving innovation and growth in the creative industries. The pandemic has only accelerated investment and interest in CreaTech, particularly in culture,… Read More »Mapping the R&D landscape for creative technologies
R&D, design and innovation: Examining the links in the creative industries
This paper provides policymakers, academics, and creative industry organisations with one of the first analyses of how much creative industries organisations are investing in R&D and engaging in innovation activities. … Read More »R&D, design and innovation: Examining the links in the creative industries
Response to the 2021 Budget: R&D, migration, skills and levelling-up
Our response to the 2021 Budget The PEC’s response to the 2021 Budget The creative industries – from film, to fashion, art, advertising, games, design and more – are a… Read More »Response to the 2021 Budget: R&D, migration, skills and levelling-up
Business R&D in the arts, humanities and social sciences
What R&D in the arts, humanities & social sciences looks like in a business setting, and why it matters This policy briefing is based on research which starts from two… Read More »Business R&D in the arts, humanities and social sciences
Beyond the early adopter: widening the appeal for virtual reality
How the cultural industries can increase the adoption of immersive technologies for mainstream audiences Virtual reality worlds. Procedurally generated landscapes. Live immersive experiences. This sort of technology used to be… Read More »Beyond the early adopter: widening the appeal for virtual reality
Artificial intelligence, levelling-up and R&D: the PEC’s response to the Spending Review 2020
We analyse the Spending Review and the extent our recommendations feature in today’s announcement The creative industries – from film, to fashion, art, advertising, games, design and more – are… Read More »Artificial intelligence, levelling-up and R&D: the PEC’s response to the Spending Review 2020
Calling for a UK Centre for AI and the Creative Industries
A letter of support from the tech and creative sectors ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review An open letter to the Chancellor in support of our proposal that the UK… Read More »Calling for a UK Centre for AI and the Creative Industries
A new R&D centre for the Creative Industries in Chile
Creativity and tech in South America This month sees the launch of a new technology centre for the Creative Industries in Chile. It will be the first of its kind amongst an already… Read More »A new R&D centre for the Creative Industries in Chile
The implications of AI for the creative industries and how we should respond
The use and influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the creative industries is growing. AI techniques are already recommending us TV shows or music on services such as Netflix or… Read More »The implications of AI for the creative industries and how we should respond
AI and the Creative Industries: The art in the artificial
AI and the creative industries Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the goal of developing machines with intelligent capabilities, such as pattern recognition, conversation and, ultimately, general intelligence itself. AI has seen… Read More »AI and the Creative Industries: The art in the artificial
What are the ethical implications of immersive experiences in arts and heritage sites?
In our recent PEC Discussion Paper, Immersive experiences in museums, galleries and heritage sites: a review of research findings and issues, we presented an overview and guide on immersive experiences for those… Read More »What are the ethical implications of immersive experiences in arts and heritage sites?
Immersive media in the UK: reaching present-day audiences should not be an afterthought
As a wealth of immersive creative talent emerges in the UK, Catherine Allen and Chris Sizemore of Limina Immersive argue that more investment must be made into addressing how arts… Read More »Immersive media in the UK: reaching present-day audiences should not be an afterthought
Regulating a platform economy
The Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC) offers a unique opportunity to respond to a dramatic challenge to the industrial organisation of the creative industries: Are the creative industries… Read More »Regulating a platform economy
The Fusion Effect
The Economic Returns to Combining Arts and Science Skills This report explores the performance of businesses with fused skills – thosecompanies that fuse science and arts skills. It uses official… Read More »The Fusion Effect
Assessing an experimental approach to industrial policy evaluation
Applying RCT+ to the case of Creative Credits In this paper the authors assessed the Randomized Controlled Trial plus (RCT+) approach through an evaluation of Creative Credits – a UK… Read More »Assessing an experimental approach to industrial policy evaluation
Capital of Culture?
An econometric analysis of the relationship between arts and cultural clusters, wages and the creative economy in English cities In this paper, the authors built an econometric model that explores… Read More »Capital of Culture?
Estimating the Impact of Live Simulcast on Theatre Attendance
An Application to London’s National Theatre The authors used data for the UK’s early National Theatre (NT) Live broadcasts to conclude that live broadcasts generated greater, not fewer, audiences at… Read More »Estimating the Impact of Live Simulcast on Theatre Attendance
The Innovation Game
Adjusting the R&D Tax Credit:boosting innovation in theUK video games industry The UK is home to a renowned video games development industry and is a place where global publishers have… Read More »The Innovation Game
Creative Credits: A randomized controlled industrial policy experiment
This report examines the results of a pilot study, which used a method of evaluation called randomised control trials (RCTs), to see if a popular business support scheme called Creative… Read More »Creative Credits: A randomized controlled industrial policy experiment
A Dynamic Mapping of the UK’s Creative Industries
This report presented a new way of classifying the UK’s creative industries, and highlighted a number of problems with the current government definition. The paper argued that, despite its strengths,… Read More »A Dynamic Mapping of the UK’s Creative Industries
Crossing the River by Feeling for Stones
Crossing the River by Feeling for Stones UK creative industries have yet to take advantage of China’s growth. This paper looked at the barriers to doing business in China, and… Read More »Crossing the River by Feeling for Stones
Creating Innovation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
This working paper looked at the short-term impact of the Creative Credits pilot scheme which operated in the Manchester region from 2009 to 2010. Publication date: 04 May 2011
State of Uncertainty
This paper proposed a new model for innovation policy, which supports the generation and exploitation of new ideas. Innovation policy has desirable effects distinct from those sought by industrial policy:… Read More »State of Uncertainty
Culture of Innovation
An economic analysis of innovationin arts and cultural organisations This report tackled the question of how cultural organisations can find ways to innovate in the tightest funding environment they’ve ever… Read More »Culture of Innovation
Beyond Live
Digital innovation in the performing arts The researchers conducted an in-depth research study on the two National Theatre Live pilots that were broadcast in 2009 – Phèdre on 25th June… Read More »Beyond Live
The Money Game
Project finance and video games development in the UK This briefing investigated the value of external project finance to the video games sector, and suggested ways of encouraging it. Publication… Read More »The Money Game
It’s time to play by Games Investor Consulting
A Survey on the impact of a tax credit for cultural video games in the UK development sector Time to Play looked at the potential impact of a tax credit… Read More »It’s time to play by Games Investor Consulting
Nudging Innovation
Fifth generation innovation, behavioural constraints, and the role of creative business – considerations for the NESTA innovation vouchers pilot This research set out an argument that behavioural biases and habits… Read More »Nudging Innovation
Arts and Humanities Research and Innovation
This paper investigated the role that arts and humanities research plays in the innovation system. This research suggested innovation flourishes when there is a strong knowledge base combined with a… Read More »Arts and Humanities Research and Innovation
The art of innovation
How fine arts graduates contribute to innovation This report gave insights into how fine arts graduates contribute to innovation in the creative industries and beyond, and what policymakers can do… Read More »The art of innovation
Beyond the creative industries
Mapping the creative economyin the United Kingdom This report argued for a nationwide strategy to put entrepreneurship at the heart of education for the creative industries. There have been renewed… Read More »Beyond the creative industries
Creating Innovation
Do the creative industries supportinnovation in the wider economy? This report presented the results of research into the role of the creative industries in stimulating and supporting innovation in the… Read More »Creating Innovation