Universities in Dundee, Lancaster and Newcastle, working alongside the Royal College of Art, will lead a regional consortium that will aim to grow the UK economy through the digital and creative industries, having been awarded a £4 million grant.

Led by Lancaster University, the higher education establishments, chosen by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, are the Royal College of Art, University of Dundee, Queen Mary, University of London, the University of the West of England, and Newcastle University.

A hub based in Lancaster, called ‘The Creative Exchange’ will also aim to include organisations such as the BBC, MediaCityUK, Microsoft, NESTA, Manchester Digital, Arts Council England and over 30 SME’s who will aim to grow the UK economy.

Professor Rachel Cooper, chair of the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, who will lead the Creative Exchange, described the hub as ‘a unique opportunity’ to bring together thee of the UK’s best design labs with academics from the arts and humanities to examine the evolving digital landscape.

“This will result in the development of new products and services centred around citizen led content, driving regional and national economies,” added Cooper.

The hub will offer all partners are able to create their own online content in order to communicate with businesses, organisations and researchers, as well as non-members in order to test new concepts.