Creative, Digital and IT (CDIT) feasibility study (ESRC)

Bournemouth Digital Pier (CDIT – South)

Bournemouth Digital Pier is the name of a feasibility study funded by ESRC and completed by Steve Brewer (University of Southampton) and David Rees (Henley Business School) looking into the feasibility of replicating the Brighton Fuse Project. Brighton Fuse developed the concept of a new business paradigm, that of the superfused organisation that harnessed the combined benefits of creative, digital and IT (CDIT) approaches in a tightly coupled organisational structure.

The Bournemouth Digital Pier study presents an overview of the current situation in Bournemouth and the surrounding area achieved through interviews with key figures, other research and a preliminary literature search. The report also includes a comparison of the key business models for CDIT enterprise around the UK including: Tech City, Soho and Greenwich in London and MediaCity UK in Salford, Greater Manchester as well as Brighton.

The report presents seven recommendations for follow on actions:

  1. A comprehensive real-time programme of research that will offer a deeper understanding of the CDIT sector across Bournemouth and the Bournemouth conurbation, and an increased awareness of the issues involved in supporting and analysing CDIT practitioners and their clusters. This would encompass analysis of the technical, creative, economic and business aspects of the initiative.
  2. An evaluation of strategic model options and their operational implementation that could lead and sustain the development of Bournemouth as an internationally recognised CDIT hub.
  3. The development of a wider regional CDIT support network (CDIT-South) that would harness the existing local networks; build upon the legacy of existing wider regional networks such as e-Research South which links Bournemouth, Southampton, Reading, Bath, Oxford and other universities, and also draw upon other networks such as IT as a Utility Network+ and similar communities of interest. The Centre for Digital Entertainment (CDE) that links Bournemouth and Bath Universities would also benefit from this network. Links with CDIT activity in Bristol have also been identified.
  4. Establishing a programme of workshops, events and activities that would engage all Bournemouth CDIT hub stakeholders in the development of a local creative, digital economy.
  5. A series of pilot projects to develop prototype and proof of concept solutions to connect university research teams, companies and other bodies on the micro, mezzo and macro levels.
  6. Funding of short-term secondments for experts and specialists to transfer between enterprises, public-sector organisations, universities and local government to foster understanding and share skill sets.
  7. Promotion and dissemination of the benefits of the local CDIT hub, how hub development can be achieved, and the resources needed for it to thrive.

 

A four page brochure summarising the report is available here – Bournemouth Digital Pier – brochure

The full report can be accessed here: Bournemouth Digital Pier – full report

If you are interested in collaborating in taking any of these recommendations forward, please get in touch with us:

  • s.brewer@soton.ac.uk
  • david.rees@henley.reading.ac.uk

Related links:

Brighton Fuse – project web page