The Studio Innovation Fund – Creative Tech for Social Good
The 2024–2025 Studio Innovation Fund (SIF), hosted by The Studio at Bath Spa University, offers a bold alternative to conventional innovation funding. While many UK funds focus on commercial growth and market fit, SIF champions creative technology for social impact.
This unique programme supports interdisciplinary teams to experiment, reflect, and co-create solutions to real-world challenges—without the pressure of immediate financial return. It’s a space where creativity meets purpose, and where partnerships thrive on shared values and community engagement.
What Makes SIF Different?
- £10,000 core grants plus up to £4,000 in creative tech training
- Focus on social value, not just commercial viability
- Encourages inclusive design, equitable partnerships and narrative-driven innovation
In 2024–2025, three diverse partnerships explored:
- Immersive healthcare experiences
- Cultural data platforms
- Anti-capitalism game design
These projects pushed boundaries—not just in tech, but in how we think about impact. From immersive films and deployable installations to co-designed dashboards and experimental games, the outcomes were as varied as they were meaningful.
Key Achievements
- Deep collaboration built on trust and shared purpose
- Creative outputs that challenge norms and invite reflection
- Agile, co-designed processes that sparked sector innovation
- Strong engagement from cultural, healthcare, and civic communities
Importantly, SIF prioritised process over product. Teams were encouraged to pivot, adapt, and reflect—leading to long-term potential. Several projects secured matched funding, attracted national interest, and laid foundations for future development.
Why It Matters
SIF proves that growth in creative tech can be measured in social impact, sector transformation, and collaborative resilience—not just financial metrics. It’s a model that values people, stories, and systems change.
As the fund evolves, its challenge will be to scale without losing its reflective ethos. Future cycles will continue to champion creative risk-taking, community-rooted innovation, and technology as a tool for change.
Find out more
View the complete The Studio Innovation Fund 2024-2025 Evaluation
The call for the Studio Innovation Fund 2026 is now open!
See how The Studio Innovation Fund champions creative technology for social good.