Brighton Fuse sparks research into digital firms (From The Argus)

Brighton Fuse sparks research into digital firms

9:02am Tuesday 19th June 2012 in Business News By John Keenan, business editor

Digital companies are being put under the microscope to find out what makes them tick. Brighton Fuse is a two-year research and development project to map, measure and assist the city’s creative, digital and IT firms.

The organisers said their new survey will need a high response rate to help them develop reliable findings and sound recommendations.

A spokesman said the results will be published in top academic journals.

He said: “By looking at the Brighton digital cluster in detail we can raise its profile in the eyes of potential collaborators, clients, investors and funders, as well as local and national policymakers. “We’ll use the responses to describe factors affecting how firms in the cluster innovate and grow and the challenges that they face along the way. This will help us to develop recommendations for policy- makers and universities on how best to support the growth of the cluster.”

Ross Breadmore, a consultant at Nixon McInnes, in Dyke Road, Brighton, said: “It will help us understand the true picture of digital industries in Brighton. The information will help us to compare ourselves to cities such as London and Manchester.”

Phil Jones, chief executive at Wired Sussex, an association of digital companies, said: “The survey is aimed at CEOs of creative and digital companies. It is quantative research that will help to discover the size, scale and dynamic of the sector.”