The BBC is extending its Innovation Labs programme across the UK, offering regional media companies the opportunity to secure commissions from the broadcaster for new products and services to enhance its digital strategy.
New media companies in four UK regions - Scotland, Northern England, Southern England and London - are being invited to pitch ideas in response to a series of briefs from commissioners across the BBC .
From 26 October to 27 November, there will be 13 launch events in the four UK regions, with dates and venues found at open.bbc.co.uk/labs
Ten companies in each region will be invited to a week-long residential Innovation Lab, working with BBC developers and other industry experts to develop their ideas into concept prototypes.
The prototypes can then be pitched to BBC commissioning editors, who will offer further development commissions for the best ideas at each event.
Extending Innovation Labs, a collaborative project with 10 regional development agencies, follows on from successful pilots earlier this year in London, Yorkshire and the North-West, which were attended by 29 companies, generating over 170 ideas and resulted in 13 projects selected for further development.
‘Innovation Labs are a way for us to get to know the range of talented independent companies across the UK, and to share with them our strategies and innovation requirements,’ said Matt Locke, BBC head of innovation.
Changes made to improve the Labs include extending the programme to more regions, including briefs from more departments across the BBC, and streamlining the commissioning process post-event.
‘The Labs are very collaborative and creative experiences for the BBC and the independent sector, so we’re looking forward to seeing the ideas from the 2006/7 programme, and hopefully will be extending it across the whole of the UK in 2007/8,’ said Locke.
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