BNP Paribas Personal Finance and SuperTech Launch Innovation Lab to Tackle Financial Data Challenges

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute

Growth

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Quick Read: BNP Paribas Personal Finance and SuperTech launch the Innovation Lab in collaboration with STEAMhouse, inviting SMEs with digital tech solutions to address data-led challenges in the financial services sector. The program offers a fully funded opportunity for comprehensive support, mentorship, and collaboration with industry experts, aiming to revolutionize the banking and financial sector.

Partnership with STEAMhouse Offers SMEs a Platform to Revolutionize Financial Services

In a bid to address data-led challenges within the financial services sector, BNP Paribas Personal Finance has joined forces with SuperTech to unveil the Innovation Lab. The initiative, in collaboration with STEAMhouse, aims to foster innovation in financial technology, encouraging SMEs with digital tech solutions to participate.

The focus of this year's challenge revolves around harnessing external data and insights to elevate engagement with financial services customers. BNP Paribas Personal Finance, along with SuperTech, invites SMEs to apply, irrespective of their current market presence, with a willingness to be physically present in Birmingham, West Midlands, for key program touchpoints.

Successful applicants will enjoy a host of benefits, including a flexible co-working space at STEAMhouse, mentorship from senior financial services experts, investment pitch opportunities, and personalized 1:1 support. The program culminates in a showcase opportunity during BNP Paribas' "Innovation Week in May 2024."

Stephen Hunt, CEO of BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK, expressed excitement about the partnership, highlighting the importance of embracing new ideas to deliver better products and solutions for customers.

The Innovation Lab represents a collaborative effort to accelerate fintech innovation, leveraging the insights and support provided by a global financial services brand. With the application window open until February 23, 2024, interested SMEs can visit SuperTech's website for more information and to apply.

What's new

CreaTech Frontiers Launch Unlocks £250K in Funding for West Midlands Creative Innovators

Creative SMEs in the West Midlands are being given a major boost with the launch of CreaTech Frontiers, a new innovation cluster that has opened applications for the first £250,000 round of grant funding.

The programme, which offers individual grants of up to £10,000, is designed to help freelancers and small creative businesses develop groundbreaking ideas at the intersection of creativity and technology. The funding forms part of a £7.2 million, five-year initiative led by a consortium of regional powerhouses including Birmingham City University (BCU), University of Birmingham, Coventry University, University of Warwick, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. It’s funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the UK Research and Innovation's Creative Industries Cluster Programme.

Photo Credit: University of Warwick

Officially launched on April 29 at STEAMhouse, BCU’s innovation centre, CreaTech Frontiers marks the first time the West Midlands has received funding through this prestigious national scheme.

Professor Lamberto Coccioli, Director of CreaTech Frontiers, said:

“These early-stage grants will give creative entrepreneurs access not just to capital, but also to university-led research and resources that can turn ambitious ideas into reality. This is about unlocking cultural, social and economic value across the region.”

CreaTech Frontiers is aiming to ignite a wave of innovation in sectors like gaming, immersive tech, live performance, visual arts, and creative technologies. Successful applicants will also gain access to facilities across the five partner institutions, along with specialist academic support during the R&D phase.

Future plans include a second, larger round of grant funding, a pilot with Birmingham Opera Company, collaborative projects with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the formation of an apprenticeship working group to support skills development.

Rachel Davis, Director of Warwick Enterprise, said:

“Through this collaboration, we’re strengthening the region’s identity as a creative and tech innovation hub. With a shared focus on inclusion and sustainability, CreaTech Frontiers will ensure diverse voices are at the forefront of this growing ecosystem.”

The West Midlands Combined Authority is also backing the initiative, which it believes could contribute £65 million and create 1,500 jobs by 2030 within the regional creative and gaming economy.

West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker added:

“Our region is full of bold, young thinkers pushing the boundaries of tech and creativity. CreaTech Frontiers connects these minds with the world-class research coming out of our universities, creating the conditions for global impact.”

Applications open Monday 2 June 2025.

Interested SMEs can register now

to be part of the next generation of CreaTech pioneers.

By Anushka Malhotra

2 May