IBC has issued a call for submissions to its Accelerator Media Innovation Programme for the 2027 show.
The program connects media and entertainment Champions (buyers of technology), including broadcasters, studios, streaming platforms, content owners and rightsholders, with tech Participants, including established industry vendors, start-ups and academic partners, to accelerate innovation and generate valuable insights.
Organizations from across the global media and entertainment industry are now invited to propose projects that address real-world business and technology needs.
“Each year, the Accelerator Program demonstrates what can be achieved when organizations work together to tackle challenges that matter to the industry,” said Mark Smith, lead, IBC Accelerator Media Innovation Programme. “We’re looking for fresh ideas that push the boundaries of innovation and have the potential to deliver real industry impact. This year, we’re evolving our approach at the outset of the process to help project teams hit the ground running.”
The new approach will see IBC choose nine Accelerator projects that will be showcased at the annual Kickstart Day on Thursday, March 18 at the BBC Radio Theatre in London.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, Dec. 11. Details on the process, submission guidelines and entry form are available at https://show.ibc.org/2027-accelerator-innovation-programme.
Projects at IBC2026 showcased areas including agentic AI and intelligent production workflows, next-generation streaming and connectivity, immersive live experiences, content accessibility, and new approaches to media infrastructure and interoperability.
“The Accelerator program is so unique and such a great place to drive new ideas and concepts to see if they have potential in the real world of production,” said Tim Guilder, head of production technology, ITV Studios. “It’s an opportunity outside of ‘business as usual’ to accelerate conversations among industry peers and vendors that drive radical new use cases and architectures and put them to the test in the field in a really creative, collaborative environment.”
“Google’s partnership with the Accelerator programme provides a unique year-round framework for collaborative innovation,” added Anshul Kapoor, director of global media and entertainment for Google Cloud. “The program is critical for driving digital and AI transformation within the media & entertainment ecosystem by bringing together multi organization project-based approach. For Google it allows us to work directly with major broadcasters and media companies to address complex industry challenges, from experimental pilots to production scale execution.”
