KMDI - Knowledge Media Design Institute

Knowledge media are building blocks of a knowledge society

• Research Projects

CONCERT

The Consortium on New Media, Creative, and Entertainment R&D in the Toronto Region

KMDI is the U of T partner in the CONCERT Consortium and has established a Working Group of 17 faculty involved in research in this area. The Consortium on New Media, Creative, and Entertainment R&D in the Toronto Region (CONCERT) is a unique industry-led public-private partnership that will help fuel commercialization and the economic development of the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) creative, entertainment, and screen-based industries. CONCERT was formed to drive innovation within these industries by sparking collaborative relationships and infrastructure within the GTA. Founded by three original organizations (Ontario College of Art & Design, Ryerson University, York University), CONCERT now consists of almost 30 partners drawn from industry, academia, government, and 4th pillar organizations.

Local, provincial, and national governments are all focused on fostering and harnessing innovation and are making major investments into R&D. Recently, both the Ontario and federal governments have stressed the importance of enhancing linkages between industry needs and academic research as part of the innovation needs of the country. Other jurisdictions in Canada, across North America, and around the world (primarily in Europe and Asia) have outpaced the GTA in R&D investments and support for the entertainment and creative industries. Even with globally recognized leaders in the entertainment, creative, and IT sectors located within the region, competitive pressures have placed the Toronto Region at a critical junction. CONCERT partners believe strongly that the region’s competitiveness is at risk and concerted, grassroots efforts, matched by government actions are required immediately.

The consortium’s work will allow an integrated approach, across sectors, to R&D within the creative, entertainment, and screenbased industries in the GTA, strengthening links and working relationships between the research community and industry, to meet the goal of strengthening the region’s R&D capacity and economic outcome in order to become a world-leading hub of innovation. For the first time, it will provide an agenda that is coordinated, strategic and dynamic. The organizations within CONCERT are working synergistically to fully capitalize on the opportunity of becoming a global leader in developing and commercializing products in areas of unique strengths. The end result will be improved competitive advantage for the region. Unlike many attempts at regional collaboration and consortium-building where the focus is often dominated by lengthy discussion and a failure to move clear agendas forward, CONCERT organizations are committed to real action.