The Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Network; How can digital drive the creative industry?

I am currently working for one of the government’s KTN’s (Knowledge Transfer Networks) called Chemistry Innovation – as you can imagine I am involved in marketing, communications and design for the Chemistry sector rather than, as the title may suggest, the creative sector. However, as KTNs, our work is one of a shared spirit of collaboration and innovation and I have been working with the Creative Industries KTN on our shared web space and have got to know a little about them, which I think may be useful to share.

Having attended Innovate, a conference to show-case the work of all 15 plus Knowledge Transfer Networks from across UK industry, I attended an insightful session given by The Creative Industries KTN; How can digital drive the creative industry?

They highlighted that creative businesses from across the sector need to partner to make experiences as real and valuable as possible, a consumer’s experience is now key, not the content alone. ‘Cross fertilisation of new media is essential’, they believe we should learn from each other, keeping an open broad mind and that a cross technical experience is key.

The Creative Industries KTN helps bridge the gap when it comes to converging classic media with digital, their talk particularly highlighted the essential use of metadata (the stuff that lets Amazon suggest ‘other items you may like’!). The KTN aims to help small creative businesses navigate their way through the now numerous digital business options ‘there used to be one or two ways to make money out of creative content and now there is numerous channels’. The Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Network believes that there can no longer be a distinct division between the creative and the technical if we are to progress ; We need new technical advances but without squashing the content and talent – creative businesses need to remain open minded, seeing technical as now being just as important as the art itself.

The Creative Industries KTN help to establish new relationships across the sector of creative industries, to encourage innovation and success. As with all Knowledge Transfer Networks, they are government funded, not for profit and are there to help the sector grow - Check out a whole variety of studies and projects on their website and feel free to get in touch with them as they are funded by the Technology Strategy Board (government led) to help you Innovate.