More funds for creative content creators via MSC Malaysia IPCC 2014

• Grant amounts increased, but number of projects to be selected will be reduced
• Since 1st IPCC in 2006, 222 individuals and companies have received total of RM8.7mil

MULTIMEDIA Development Corporation (MDeC) said there will be more incentives and grants available for its 9th MSC Malaysia Intellectual Property Creators Challenge (IPCC) competition, kicked off on Aug 1 and ends Sept 30.
 
IPCC is a platform that aims to boost the number of locally created intellectual property (IP) by funding multimedia companies and individuals with creative talent to take their ideas to the next level, MDeC said in a statement.
 
It is open to amateurs and professionals from the creative multimedia industry, who must submit and pitch their creative content ideas, with a chance of receiving funding for their winning ideas, said the national ICT custodian, which is also in charge of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC Malaysia) project.
 
Last year, nearly RM1 million (US$314,000) worth of grants was disbursed to the winners of IPCC 2013.
 
Themed ‘I Love Comedy,’ this year’s competition maintains the traditional three categories: Animation, casual games and digital interactive comic.
 
However, the amount of grants allocated for the winning ideas and the number of projects that will be funded has been revised for 2014, MDeC said.
 
The grant amounts have been increased to cater to the increased price of software and hardware in recent years, while the number of projects that will be selected to be funded had been reduced to ensure the winners will receive more time with their mentors, which MDeC believes would result in higher quality content.
 
This year, the animation and casual games categories will receive an increase of RM10,000 in the grant amount each, from RM50,000 in 2013 to RM60,000 this year. Projects funded under these two categories will be reduced from 10 to seven projects.
 
In the digital interactive comics category, the grant amount remains at RM25,000, while the number of projects to be funded has increased to six in 2014 from five last year.
 
[RM1 = US$0.32]
 
“The vast economic potential of the creative multimedia industry allows for the sector to be one of the significant contributors to MSC Malaysia’s revenue, with RM6.39 billion contributed in 2013,” said Kamil Othman (pic), MDeC’s vice president of the Creative Multimedia Cluster.
 
“Our focus on developing the sector into becoming one of the growth engines for the country, by targeting the core – both the budding digital content producers as well as established creative multimedia content creators through platforms such as the IPCC – will allow us to unearth and enhance the capabilities of local talents,” he added.
 
IPCC 2014 will be organising a series of workshops and talks from international and local industry experts to assist the new IPCC 2014 participants, as well as the previous grant recipients in the development and monetisation of their projects.
 
These sessions will include topics on include financial matters, production management, pitching, marketing, licensing, merchandising, creative, and the technical aspects of creative multimedia content, MDeC said.
 
“Providing industry insights and sharing platforms with experts in the field will enhance the capabilities of our local talents, as invaluable inputs and sound advice can be shared. The best people to deliver this are of course the dynamic industry players and the market leaders themselves,” said Kamil.
 
Since the first IPCC in 2006, 222 individuals and companies have received a total of RM8.7 million in financial support, in addition to training and development programmes.
 
From IPCC 2013, there are 22 projects in development amounting to RM1 million of value committed, and these will be ready by September 2014, MDeC said.
 
For more information on IPCC 2014, go to www.mscmalaysia.my/ipcc.
 
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