IBC calls for Challenge submissions for 2027 Accelerators

The call invites organisations from across the global media and entertainment industry to propose ambitious, collaborative innovation projects that address real-world business and technology needs and turn bold ideas into practical industry advances.

Entering its ninth year, IBC’s Accelerator Programme has become a unique focal point for developing fast-track solutions to common industry challenges and sharing learnings across the global media sector. The programme 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.

“Each year, the Accelerator Programme demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations 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.”

For 2027, IBC is introducing a streamlined selection approach, with nine Accelerator projects to be chosen ahead of its annual Kickstart Day on Thursday 18 March 2027 at the iconic BBC Radio Theatre in London. The deadline for Challenge submissions is Friday 11 December 2027.

The selected projects will be presented at Kickstart Day, where project leaders will pitch their challenges and invite organisations to participate. Following the event, project teams will work together to develop solutions, culminating in live proof-of-concept (PoC) demonstrations and presentations at IBC2027 in Amsterdam 10-13 September 2027.

The 2027 programme will build on the momentum of this year's Accelerators, which brought together leading media organisations as Champions, including Astro, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, BBC, Channel 4, DAZN, France Télévisions, ITV, NBCUniversal, Reuters, RTL, SCRIPPS, and Sky among many others, alongside Participants such as Google Cloud, Cognizant, EVS, Haivision, LiveU, AWS, Moments Lab, Shure, TCS, AMD-HP, and many more to explore opportunities for innovation across the media sector.

The projects showcased at IBC2026 spanned agentic AI and intelligent production workflows, next-generation streaming and connectivity, immersive live experiences, content accessibility, and new approaches to media infrastructure and interoperability. These themes are expected to remain important as the industry continues to explore opportunities in areas such as AI-driven systems, advanced 5G connectivity, ultra-low-latency, personalised media experiences, and more efficient production and distribution.

The Accelerator Programme has established a unique track record of bringing together organisations that might not otherwise collaborate, enabling them to test ideas, share expertise, access untapped innovation, and generate practical outcomes that can inform future technology development and industry practices.

Sandeep Tiku, Group CTO, DAZN said: “The IBC Accelerator Programme is the glue that brings together technology leaders to revolutionise, redefine, and reimagine what the future of media will look like. It’s made possible because of this programme.”

“The Accelerator programme 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,” added Tim Guilder, Head, 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,” said Anshul Kapoor, Director, Global Media, Entertainment, Google Cloud. “The programme is critical for driving digital and AI transformation within the media and entertainment ecosystem by bringing together a multi-organisation, 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.”

To submit for IBC2027 Accelerator projects, Challenge submissions should outline a clear business or technology need to be addressed through fast-track experimentation and the development of PoCs for IBC2027. Proposals must have the support of confirmed industry Champions.

Submitting a Challenge is straightforward, with full information on the process, submission guidelines and entry form available at https://show.ibc.org/2027-accelerator-innovation-programme.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for Kickstart Day and across the Accelerator Programme. For further information, contact accelerators@ibc.org.