Innovators in Coventry and Warwickshire Encouraged to Apply for £1.5 Million Funding

By Anushka Malhotra

1 minute 34 seconds

Investment

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Quick Read: Micro and small businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire's immersive and creative tech sectors are invited to apply for up to £1.5 million in funding from Innovate UK's new Launchpad competition.

Innovative micro and small businesses in the immersive and creative technology sector within Coventry and Warwickshire are being called to apply for a share of up to £1.5 million in funding.

A collaboration between Innovate UK, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, and the West Midlands Combined Authority aims to bolster innovation in the region's immersive and creative technology cluster.

Innovate UK has introduced a new Launchpad competition that offers up to £1.5 million in grants and business support to ‘New Innovators’ in Coventry and Warwickshire who have not previously sought assistance from the innovation agency.

Eligible micro and small businesses can apply for grants ranging from £25,000 to £50,000, with the application deadline set for 11 am on Wednesday, June 19.

The immersive and creative industries Launchpad invites applications for projects that develop and apply technologies in the following areas:

- Media technologies, including digital and mixed media

- Immersive technologies, such as augmented and virtual reality

- Game engine and virtual production, including 3D environments, simulations, and data visualisations

- Motion capture, including performance capture, gesture, and facial recognition

Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, emphasised that this competition builds on the region's strengths in immersive and creative technologies. He stated,

“This Launchpad competition focuses on business growth by advancing innovation in immersive and creative industries. Our area is renowned for its video game development cluster, creating highly skilled jobs and opportunities. Over 1,000 high-quality games with globally recognized intellectual property have been developed here.”

He further highlighted the significance of the 'Silicon Spa' cluster in Warwick, Leamington, and Southam, which employs 15% of the UK’s games development talent and is recognised as the largest cluster outside Greater London by trade body UKIE.

Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration, and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, expressed his support:

“This funding opportunity is a significant boost for a growing sector that develops new ways for people to interact with content and experiences. It can create new jobs in Coventry and Warwickshire and support companies with growth ambitions.”

He encouraged ambitious small businesses working with these technologies to review the information and consider applying for the grants.

For further details and the application link, click here.

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