Example of my work.

1. Screen Image & Sound Cluster Opportunities in Digital Media Innovation Serious Virtual Worlds Conference 08 Richard Hyde Deputy Chairman Advantage West Midlands

2. Presentation Outline.. Profile on the West Midlands Channel 4 4IP Regional hub Exploiting wider opportunities Summary of Key Observations SGI as a thought leader Recent Successes

3. West Midlands is a UK leader in digital media Population 5.3 million 9% of the UK population Birmingham, 2 nd City only to London Diverse mix of cultures Creative & Cultural Sector 7.3% UK, 1.8m, 50,000

4. Profile - AWM – RDA – Regional Government Making the greatest impact – targeting need – investing in success 17,000 jobs 6,000 helped to get jobs 1,300 new businesses 12,000 businesses supported £300m+ pa 2,500 projects Serious Games and Virtual Worlds are key area to invest in

5. Profile – Digital Media Strengths 20% UK Games Production Interactive media Top New media agencies MUSIC PRODUCTION Birmingham top 5 global destination for diversity serious games UK hub, games based learning, virtual worlds, global profile Film active region For production

6. Regional Successes £4m Film Fund £7m SGI & Hello Digital 23-26 Oct 08 Serious Games IDM proof of concept £6m Custard Factory ICE Creative Space, Hubs… Serious Virtual Worlds Conference £600K Development £5m Digital Media Music Industry European Regions in top 5

7. Serious Games Institute Thought leader for Serious Games & Virtual Worlds virtual conferences and data simulation. Funding streams Demonstrators, Proof of Concept, Science City… … are Stepping stones to opening new markets and creating real commercial success Second Wednesday Many SME’s moved here for collaborative benefits

8. New Opportunities in Digital Media £5m from AWM = £10m ring-fenced for the region Part of which can be spent with partners from the UK and abroad. Commercial return, budgets £20K-£1.5m £50m over 2 years Non television Digital Media IDM will act as funnel for Serious Games ideas Channel 4 Commissioning Hub for 4IP in Birmingham

9. What is Digital Media? Digital television, digital radio, internet and mobile

10. What is Digital Media? Digital television, digital radio, internet and mobile Screen, Image & Sound Cluster All ‘digital creative industries’ Film, television, animation, interactive media, games, radio, music, digital imaging

11. What is Digital Media? Digital new media includes… Computer aided social networks Pixel Learning 4IP at Channel 4 embraces ‘ content or technologies allowing a more complex, interactive relationship and allowing users to create, modify and comment on content. Peer to peer and file sharing technologies Collaborative knowledge networks On-line Journalism and Broadcasting Imagined and alternative life networks Interactive Learning and leisure anything interesting we’ve Missed..!

12. Exploiting wider opportunities in Digital media Beyond Channel 4 4IP…. We are pursuing other avenues of collaboration… Many are sceptical of virtual worlds … You will not be able to bring some organisations or sectors from their current thinking easily Innovation Technology Council Technology Strategy Board European Funding Calls

13. In Summary… opportunities in digital media AWM remain committed to sector Think ‘outside the box’ for cross-sector collaborations, get help Build SGI, Screen WM, Business Link So start talking about opportunities today! Channel 4 4IP is a huge opportunity Not everyone is on board, many need a ‘stepping stone’ approach