BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund

BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund: Supporting the UK Screen Sector

The BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund has recently opened its first call for projects, aiming to address critical challenges faced by the UK screen sector. With a focus on the video games industry, this fund seeks to provide solutions that support smaller-scale and independent developers, as well as under-represented emerging developers. In this article, we will explore the details of this fund, the challenges it aims to tackle, and the opportunities it presents for the UK screen sector.

The BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund

The BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund is part of the BFI’s National Lottery Funding Plan for 2023-2026. It aims to provide funding and support for new solutions to the most critical challenges faced by the UK screen sector. With a total budget of £1.8 million, the fund will distribute funds across up to six challenges until 2026. The fund aims to encourage innovation, develop new approaches to persistent problems, and generate insights that benefit the entire screen sector.

Rishi Coupland, the BFI Director of Research and Industry Innovation, highlights the importance of addressing specific barriers faced by smaller-scale and emerging under-represented developers in the video games industry. Coupland explains that a lack of access to data and tools restricts these developers from bringing their products to the market. The BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund aims to tackle these barriers and directly benefit UK video games, particularly independent developers, talent, and studios.

Challenge A: Transformative Open Data for the UK Video Games Industry

One of the challenges presented by the BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund is the need for transformative open data for the UK video games industry. Currently, data on and for the UK video games sector is fragmented, incomplete, or inaccessible. This lack of useful information poses significant challenges for smaller-scale developers and producers who require data to support the development of their projects. It also limits the industry’s ability to accurately assess its value, identify issues, and instigate policy change.

To address this challenge, the fund invites organizations to collect and publish useful open data for the UK video games sector. The successful applicant will be responsible for developing and testing a viable data collection process and launching a public-facing platform. The aim is to provide ongoing access to never-before-compiled information and insights that will benefit the video games sector, particularly independent developers and studios. Funding of up to £250,000 is available for this challenge.

Challenge B: Support for Under-represented Emerging Developers

The second challenge presented by the BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund focuses on supporting under-represented emerging developers in the video games industry. Navigating the video games industry can be challenging for these developers due to a lack of transparency and limited opportunities for financial support and exposure. The industry also lacks diversity, with the workforce being predominantly male and white.

To address these barriers, the fund seeks innovative proposals that can provide support to emerging under-represented developers. This support can come in the form of new tools, applications of technology, or alternative approaches. By addressing these barriers, the fund aims to create opportunities for a broader range of voices and promote diversity and innovation in the video games industry. Funding of up to £100,000 is available for this challenge.

Application Process and Timeline

Interested organizations can apply for both challenges of the BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund. The deadline for applications is Monday 20 May 2024, and funding awards are expected to be made in August 2024. Full information and guidelines for making an application can be found on the BFI’s website.

To provide further support and information about the challenges, the BFI will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday 23 April. Interested applicants can register their interest and find more details on the BFI’s website. The webinar will provide valuable insights into the challenges and answer any questions potential applicants may have.

The BFI National Lottery Innovation Challenge Fund is a significant opportunity for the UK screen sector, specifically the video games industry. By addressing critical challenges and providing funding for innovative solutions, the fund aims to support smaller-scale and independent developers, as well as under-represented emerging developers. Through the development of transformative open data and the provision of support, the fund aims to enhance the industry’s diversity, accessibility, and overall success. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply and contribute to the growth and innovation of the UK screen sector.