CONTENTS

BRITISH INNOVATION

A springboard to global growth
Andrew Cahn, UK Trade & Investment

Innovation: the business of shaping our world
David Golding, Technology Strategy Board

Going global
Jonathan Kestenbaum, NESTA

Diversity is good for innovation
Annette Williams, UKRC for Women in SET

Promoting physics supporting physicists
Institute of Physics

The cost-saving CEO
Taylor Wessing

The BIC network
UK Trade & Investment

Innovation inspires R&D tax relief
PricewaterhouseCoopers

OPEN INNOVATION

KEY TECHNOLOGY

Addressing cross sectoral issues
Integrated Products Manufacturing KTN

Research Councils

Meeting the global challenge
Research Councils

The UK?s National Science and Innovation Campuses
Science & Technology Facilities Council

Aerospace & Defence

Enabling technology through innovative approaches
Aerospace & Defence KTN

Defence technologies for civilian applications
Ploughshare Innovations

Biometrics

Securing the future
Intellect Association for Biometrics

Biotechnology

Supporting life sciences in the capital
London First

Tackling the threat of electronic crime
Cyber Security KTN

Electronics

From invention to innovation
Electronics KTN

Grid Computing Now! KTN

Energy

A global fusion
UK Atomic Energy Authority

Design for a one planet economy
Giraffe Innovation

Managing carbon in the corporate and public sectors
Greenstone Carbon Management

Towards an energy efficient future
British Electrotechnical and Allied

Manufacturers Association (BEAMA) Home help
Energy Institute

Healthcare

Connecting people and technology
Health Technologies KTN

A centre of excellence for innovative translational research
University of Birmingham

Feeling your way to design success
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

University-industry collaborations
Imperial College London

Lost in translation
Pearson Matthews Innovation Consultants

Location and Timing

Location and Timing KTN
Intelligent Transport Systems

Mapping the route to intelligent transport systems deployment
Innovits KTN

Drive down fleet costs and reduce carbon emissions?
Energy Saving Trust

DRIVENet and sustainable vehicle engineering
Oxford Brookes University

Manufacturing

Breaking the mould
Manufacturing Technologies Association

University of Nottingham

An innovative history
Scott Bader

Innovation for tomorrow?s built environment
Modern Built Environment KTN

MATERIALS

Innovations in materials deliver value for money
Materials KTN

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology in the UK
Nano KTN

Linking technology push with market pull
NanoCentral

Running the risks
European Nanotechnology Trade Alliance

Nanofabrication solutions
Kelvin Nanotechnology

Innovative science for global applications
Oxford Instruments

Leading positive change for global industry
The Centre for Process Innovation

PHOTONICS

Making light work for industry
Photonics KTN

SENSORS & INSTRUMENTS

Unlocking the potential of the UK?s sensing community
Sensors & Instruments KTN

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

Investing in the future
Invest Northern Ireland

Ulster innovation delivering business success
University of Ulster

Focus: Northern Ireland

Belfast ? a city of creativity and innovation
Belfast City Council

A natural centre for innovation
London Development Agency

England?s East Midlands ? an innovative region
East Midlands Development Agency

Making it in Leeds
The City of Leeds

Collaboration in wireless technologies
Wireless Centre of Industrial Collaboration

Industrial Collaboration at the University of Leeds
Engineering Design CIC

Innovations
One North East

Focus: North West of England

Focus: South West of England

Be part of the equation
West of England Partnership

All change for Hastings
Innovation Centre Hastings

ITI Scotland

UK SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PARKS

Raising the standards
UK Science Park Association

Special focus: collaboration
Edinburgh Science Triangle

Innovation: the key to economic growth
County Durham Development Company

Solutions across boundaries
Norwich Research Park

Partnership provides innovation success
Wolverhampton Science Park

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

The outsourcing advantage
Business Services Association

Fast start UK
Tenon Outsourcing

Inward investment trends
HSBC

Divine intervention
British Business Angels Association

Know your rights
Intellectual Property Office

A perfect patent
Beresford & Co

Putting IP at the centre of business strategy
Cambridge Intellectual Property

USEFUL INFORMATION

Science lessons
GovNet Communications

Useful addresses

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

BELFAST CITY COUNCIL

Belfast ? a city of
creativity and innovation

Innovation has always been the life blood of cities and regions throughout the globe and it is those industries whose foundations are steeped in creativity that are making a significant contribution to the social and economic regeneration of Belfast, as well as giving the City a sense of identity and vision

The creative industries are growing at more than twice the rate of the economy as a whole and given this growth potential in terms of revenue, jobs and impact on quality of life, they are fundamental to regional, local and economic development.

Belfast City Council is committed to the support and development of the creative industries and the impact they can have on Belfast both economically and socially. As a result, we have developed a creative industries plan to implement the priority action areas of Economy, Talent and Space, as identified in the Council?s Local Economic Development Plan, ?Staying Competitive?. The key themes of the creative industries plan are summarised as follows: Creative Economy ? projects under this theme concentrate on bespoke business development initiatives aimed at creating wealth for SMEs in the creative sector through product development, collaboration, research and export.

Creative Talent ? projects under this theme address the skill rquirements of existing businesses and also provide new entrants and start-up companies with the necessary skills to set up their own business or to gain employment. Creative Space ? this theme addresses the need for incubation space in the City for creative companies and provides space for companies to come together to network, share ideas and develop new partnerships.

The key benefit for Belfast from an expanding and developing creative industries sector is clearly an economic one. By playing a key role in the strategic support and development of Belfast-based creative industries, local companies, providing jobs and spreading new wealth around the City, will establish a stronger economic base for the entire City?s people.

Belfast?s greatest assets are its people, their skills and their imagination. By working to support and develop the creativity of our businesses and people, so the attractiveness and success of the City will be greatly enhanced.

?The creative industries are those industries that are based on individual creativity, skill and talent. They are also those that have the potential to create wealth and jobs through developing intellectual property?

Key Sectors

  • Film, Television, Digital Media, Music and Design.

Key facts & figures

  • Over 1,000 creative industries businesses based in Belfast.
  • 55% of creative industries businesses in Northern Ireland are based in Belfast.
  • 35% of creative enterprises in Belfast work in the design-related field.
  • 61% of creative enterprises in Belfast work in the media-related field.
  • Average of 16,000 people employed in the creative sector (full-time, part-time & freelancers).
  • 68% of the Belfast companies are micro? businesses with less than 10 employees.
  • 10% of Belfast businesses have more than 50 employees.
  • 97% of jobs are full-time.
  • 40% of Belfast companies have increased employee numbers over the last 12 months.
  • 59% of Belfast companies have increased their turnover over the last 12 months.

Key Projects

Did you know

  • Julie Walters, Christopher Eccleston, Billy Connolly, Tim Robbins, Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Shirley MacLaine, Bill Murray and Gillian Anderson have all starred in films made in Belfast.
  • A new version of Sesame Street, called ?Sesame Tree? was made in Belfast in 2007.
  • The revamped ?EMU? television series was also made in Belfast in 2007.
  • ?The Paint Hall? in the historically renowned Titanic Quarter of Belfast, where the component parts of ships were once painted, was used by Walden Media & Playtone Productions for the children?s blockbuster sci-fi adventure film ?City of Ember?.
  • The ?City of Ember? was produced by Tom Hanks.
  • Dermot O?Leary is the patron for the Cinemagic International film festival for young people, based in Belfast.
  • Google and DTS (Digital Theatre Sound) have offices based in Belfast.
  • Belfast DJ David Holmes produced the soundtracks for the ?Ocean?s 11? trilogy starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

For further information on Belfast City Council?s
creative industries strategy, please contact:
Brendan McGoran
Creative Industries Officer
Belfast City Council
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast BT2 8BP
Tel: 02890 270453
E-mail: