Cluster for Convergent Technologies in the Creative Industries (C3)

The digital and creative industries in York and North Yorkshire are vibrant, yet remain siloed from the region’s broader innovation economy. High-tech businesses, working in AI, data science, robotics, and related fields, are not well connected to the creative sector, where these technologies could enable new products, services, and cultural innovation. At the same time, creative enterprises are generating valuable ideas with cross-sector potential, but often lack the infrastructure, partnerships, or awareness to develop them. Strengthening these connections represents a clear opportunity to drive inclusive regional innovation and economic growth.

Consequently, there is a significant opportunity to support the development of new technologies for the creative industries by enabling structured collaboration between regional businesses, researchers, and technologists. There is also a reciprocal opportunity to apply creative innovation in digital content creation, user-centred design, and immersive media to drive change in other high-growth sectors such as education, tourism, and advanced manufacturing.

This project will address that opportunity by establishing a place-based cluster that connects businesses across York and North Yorkshire with the creative industries and with regional and national innovation infrastructure, including the University of York’s research ecosystem and the national CoSTAR network.