Hi3 Network is an innovation network, building collaborations between small businesses and research. Part-funded by the ERDF, Hi3 Network has collaborators such as Canterbury Christ Church University, which has specialisms in Animation, Digital Design, Film, Gaming, Music Production, Photography, and Television.

With a focus on moving images, including editing, post-production, and immersive technologies, Hi3 Network is a community of experimentation and innovation for all industries. It supports the exploration of new digitised products, services, or entertainment for customers, in addition to developing existing ones into new products or, more excitingly, the market.

The collaboration with the University means there are opportunities for small businesses to gain extended access to creative tech hubs, a network of industry experts and top-level researchers, and two editing suites and co-working production areas. Canterbury Christ Church University offers knowledge exchange in moving image and creative technology, with a 284 square foot studio space and editing facilities.

Alongside this, Folkestone offers a specialism in digital projects and cloud working for arts, heritage, and screen, whilst Maidstone offers a specialism in virtual production innovation in production workflows. The project is a gateway for businesses to adopt new immersive technologies, collaborate with other companies in the region, and network with industry leaders from BAFTA and BFI.

It’s geography is strategically designed to maximise engagement with the creative industries across the South East of England to capitalise on London’s notable creative shift towards coastal communities. Hi3 Network hosts a cloud infrastructure for collaboration and production with both a virtual and physical presence, while offering studio and co-working hubs across three locations. The aim is for a creative community to be established, encouraging knowledge share, co-working, and collaboration.

Hi3 Network hosts networking events and workshops, alongside offering opportunities for small businesses in different specialisms looking to progress with research and development.

To introduce the project, Hi3 network has two upcoming events; 1st July and 25th August 2021. These will present the overall project, outline the calendar, explain some of the technologies that will be part of the studios, and be an opportunity to meet some SMEs. It will be an opportunity to network with other companies and academics from the Universities involved in the Hi3 Network.

For a chance to win an innovation voucher, which would give you access to Hi3 Networks facilities, in Canterbury, Folkstone or Maidstone, as well as a secure high-speed cloud-based network, complete the survey below and tell us how creative tech collaboration could help your business grow.  

You can register to the events here:

1st of July: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1566539752573

25th of August:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158576479519

Take the survey here: https://reilabs.typeform.com/to/NPltGoXS

Got questions? Contact the team: hi3network@canterbury.ac.uk