News Story

The Coronation Challenge: CreaTech Report

Wednesday 19 Feb 2025

he Open University is proud to celebrate its contribution to a major new government report, The Coronation Challenge: CreaTech Report, launched Monday 10 Feb by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Royal Anniversary Trust. The Report explores how the combination of creativity and emerging technologies, known as CreaTech, can drive innovation, create jobs, and position the UK as a global leader in the Creative Industries. The year-long research initiative, supported by think-tank Erskine Analysis, highlights the opportunities presented by CreaTech. The findings show that this blend of creativity and technology could add £18 billion to the UK economy over the next decade and create 160,000 new jobs.

The OU was invited to participate in this initiative after receiving the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its OpenSTEM Labs, in 2023. The University was represented by Dr Lisa Bowers (Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering & Innovation, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics), and Sam Toolan (Head of External Engagement, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences). Lisa and Sam joined as lead representatives of a select group of 22 other leading educational institutions and industry experts contributing to the research which will lead the way for new graduates of the future CreaTech.

For more information: https://royalanniversarytrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CreaTech-Report.pdf