UKRI R&D strategy for the creative and cultural economy – UKRI
The document outlines UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) research and development (R&D) strategy for the UK’s creative and cultural economy, published on 20 January 2026. It sets out a vision to accelerate growth, increase GVA, and attract private investment by leveraging ‘createch’ – the convergence of creative innovation and frontier technology – and by strengthening the UK’s IP environment. The strategy is built on advanced skills development, evidence‑led interventions, and regional inclusivity. It defines six key outcomes (growth acceleration, UK‑wide opportunity, embedded createch, supportive IP, skilled inclusive workforce, live intelligence, global reach, and broader access to culture) and lists success measures such as increased investor‑ready companies, new start‑ups, PhD graduates, jobs, and international collaborations. The approach is organised around five delivery pillars – scaling innovative companies, infrastructure, challenge‑led and place‑based R&D, talent and skills, and policy and evidence for growth – with targeted investment and coordinated portfolio actions. Robust governance, place‑based cluster investment, national infrastructure (e.g., CoSTAR), evidence generation (Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre), partnerships (Immersive Arts collaboration), and specialised training (AI for Digital Media Inclusion CDT) are highlighted as mechanisms to deliver impact. The strategy also showcases UKRI’s role in supporting over 700 creative businesses and all UK unicorns, exemplified by Synthesia, underscoring a long‑term, stable funding approach to drive a thriving, globally competitive creative and cultural sector.
Topics
Strategic Vision: Positioning the UK as a Global Createch Leader
Defines the overarching aim to make the UK a world leader in createch, integrating creative innovation with cutting‑edge technology to drive sector growth and IP‑based business formation.
Key Outcomes Framework for Creative Economy Growth
Outlines six primary outcomes – growth acceleration, UK‑wide opportunity, embedded createch, supportive IP environment, skilled inclusive workforce, live intelligence, global reach, and broader cultural access – that guide all interventions.
Five Delivery Pillars Translating Strategy into Action
Details the five pillars – scaling innovative companies, infrastructure, challenge‑led & place‑based R&D, talent & skills, policy & evidence – that structure investment and programme delivery across the sector.
Success Measures: Quantitative Benchmarks for Impact
Lists concrete metrics such as increased investor‑ready firms, new start‑ups, PhD graduates, jobs, and international collaborations to assess the strategy’s effectiveness.
Place‑Based Creative Industries Clusters: Leveraging Co‑Investment
Highlights the role of regional clusters, which have generated over £5 of co‑investment for every £1 spent, demonstrating the value of localized R&D‑led growth.
National Infrastructure Investment – CoSTAR Example
Describes the £76 million CoSTAR infrastructure investment that attracted nearly £100 million in co‑investment, engaged 1,115 companies, delivered 27 new products, and created 106 jobs.
Evidence Generation via the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre
Shows how the centre’s 60+ research papers and 38 policy briefings have informed the 2025 Industrial Strategy and underpin the sector’s growth priority.
Strategic Partnerships: Immersive Arts Collaboration
Details the first‑of‑its‑kind partnership between UKRI and the four UK arts councils to enable artists to exploit immersive technology, expanding research and innovation pathways.