Cyngor Caerdydd has said that it is "delighted" to be a member of the media.cymru consortium which has won a £50m bid to develop a world-leading cluster for media innovation in the Caerdydd Capital Region.
Led by Prifysgol Caerdydd, media.cymru brings together 24 organisations from across the Caerdydd Capital Region and includes partners working in education, broadcasting, technology, media production and local leadership.
£22m funding is provided through UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) flagship Strength in Places Fund and match-funded by £3m from Caerdydd Capital Region and £2m from the Welsh Government through Creative Wales.
Since 2006, the region has developed one of the strongest media sector growth rates in the UK, attracting one in eight of all new UK jobs in film/TV. It has produced global successes on film, and TV shows including Sex Education, His Dark Materials, Doctor Who and Dream Horse.
Responding to the advances made in remote and virtual production during the COVID-19 pandemic, media.cymru said that it will invest in the region’s "digital infrastructure"— focusing on emerging technologies, increasing small businesses’ capacity for innovation and addressing skills needs.
Cyngor Caerdydd has said that a "series of industry-led challenge areas" will be investigated. These will include sustainability, bilingual production, diversity and inclusion, tourism and technology— which "will position the Region’s media sector as a testbed for new content, approaches and formats".
Professor Justin Lewis, media.cymru and Clwstwr Director from Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture, said: “After the devastating impact of COVID-19, the need for digital innovation in the creative sector has never been more critical. So, we are delighted to have received this government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund.
“It builds on the growing success of the media sector in Wales and gives us the opportunity to build on the aims of the Clwstwr programme, which has already helped many businesses and freelancers in the area to grow and develop.
“The media.cymru programme focuses on making the Cardiff Capital Region a global hub for media innovation. It will give SMEs and start-ups working in this exciting area opportunities to collaborate and innovate, building on an integral part of the economy. We aim to support the development of a world-class media sector in Wales that inspires the world.”