Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA) has confirmed that its annual Launch Digital and Gaming Conference will this year be opened by Ed Vaizey MP, the Coalition Government’s Minister for Culture, Communication and the Creative Industries.

Mr Vaizey, the Minister for Communication, Culture and the Creative Industries, will open the one-day conference – which embraces all forms of gaming and digital media entrepreneurial development as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week – at Birmingham Science Park Aston on Wednesday 16 November.

Previously run as the Future Digital & Gaming Conference, the event will provide delegates with an insight into the latest online tools, computer games, and mobile products and services.  Leading speakers from the digital industries will also share their knowledge, and delegates will have an opportunity to get hands-on with cutting-edge innovations.

Dr David Hardman, chief executive officer, BSPA, said: “The UK games industry is the second largest in the world after the US, with the West Midlands home to 21 per cent of the UK games workforce.  This region has understandably become the hub for games and digital media and it therefore makes absolute sense to stage this event at Birmingham Science Park Aston.

“At BSPA we are pioneering the concept of ‘science parks without walls’, enabling a free and frank exchange of information and ideas regardless of physical boundary and Global Entrepreneurship Week is the perfect platform from which to do this.”

The event is supported by a broad cross-section of industry professionals, with an 18-strong Conference Advisory panel volunteering their time to develop the conference sessions.  This year’s Advisory Panel includes representatives from Microsoft-owned games developer Rare, IndieCity, Birmingham Metropolitan College, Google UK, The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE), NESTA, and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Sam Collins, Commercial Manager at UKIE and member of the advisory panel, said: “The association for UK Interactive Entertainment is delighted to be supporting the Launch Conference at Birmingham Science Park Aston. The event will give invaluable support and insight for individuals looking to get into our exciting industry and also those businesses looking to enhance their existing activities. UKIE’s vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world to develop and publish interactive entertainment. We strongly believe that this conference can play its part to help achieve this vision”.

Global Entrepreneurship Week is an internationally-recognised opportunity to showcase and celebrate all of the amazing work that entrepreneurs engage in all year round.

For further information on the gaming incubator office facilities and for the Future Gaming & Digital Conference and how to register, please visit www.bsp-a.com/futuregaming or contact Matthew Hidderley at matthewh@bsp-a.com.

ENDS
Notes to Editors
Birmingham Science Park Aston
Birmingham Science Park Aston (BSPA), was founded in 1982 and has been one of the premier Science Parks in the UK ever since. Wholly owned by Birmingham City Council, BSPA is actively looking to work with and bring together the public and private sectors, creating interfaces for people with ideas, people with technologies, people with expertise and experience, and people with money, to drive collaboration, thereby promoting innovation.

The Science Park has a highly successful Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) programme, which offers dedicated support for the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.

The Park has also recently announced a UK first by installing state-of-the-art technology to pioneer its ‘science park without walls’ concept. Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-up businesses can communicate with leading innovators, academics and investors from across the world as if they are sitting in the same room. The initiative has been made possible due to BSPA’s relationship with technology giant Cisco, which has welcomed the Park onto its Global Exchange for Growth programme.