NEWS

Norfolk to host European media centre

Norwich has been chosen to host the national centre for a new multi-million pound project that aims to put Northern Europe at the forefront of the digital revolution.

EPIC, the East of England Production Innovation Centre, in Magdalen Street, is to be the UK home for E-Clic - a network of eight media and broadband innovation centres around Northern Europe in countries including Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway.

The centres will look at ways in which broadband and the internet can offer entertainment, education and services to future generations, and will offer opportunities to local students.

The whole project, which is being supported by funding from the European Union, is worth 6.5 million Euros (approximately £5.2m).

Mark Wells, director of EPIC, said: “This is great news for Norfolk and the East of England, and great news for EPIC.

“EEDA funding is currently being deployed here to develop our studios as the pre-eminent independent High Definiton production centre in the UK, and that is enabling us to take the region to the cutting edge of broadband and production activity in Europe.

“Being named as the only UK centre, of just eight around northern Europe, recognises that we are creating - here in Norwich - a production, innovation and research centre of international standing.”

EPIC is run by Norfolk County Council.

The council's cabinet member for economic development, Christopher How, said: “I am really delighted by this news - as everyone involved with EPIC has worked hard to already ensure that it is a venue that provides a source of inspiration for creative talents of the future.

“Being involved in a select European project that is specifically looking at how the latest technology can be used in the day to day lives of future generations, can only help in positioning residents and businesses in this county to play a successful part in future developments.”

Work is nearing completion on converting EPIC's three studios to High Definition, the emerging industry standard for television. This is positioning EPIC as one of the most advanced independent TV and broadband production and post-production centres in Europe.

Through E-Clic EPIC will work to develop exciting new forms of internet entertainment and other online services - including looking at internet and broadband programming and television, 3D animation and graphics, and how broadband and internet technology can help shape e-Government, e-Commerce, e-Health and e-Learning services in the future.

The project will be launched at a conference in Norwich later this month.