English Premier League club Arsenal has launched an innovation+lab'>innovation lab as part of plans to work closer with startup organisations.

The Arsenal Innovation Lab will enable the club to partner with entrepreneurial businesses in order to explore – and improve – areas such as matchday experience and fan engagement.

It will also use the lab to find innovative ways to “transform commercial partners’ offering” and “build a retail operation for the future”.

As well as working with startups in football-related fields, the lab will offer companies a “wildcard” option – giving an opportunity to anyone to come forward with ideas, whatever their focus, to help take the club forward.

Following an application period, successful candidates will be mentored by senior business leaders from the club, and have the opportunity to test and demonstrate products or services in live environments as well as the potential for investment.

“We know there are many brilliant startup companies with creative and innovative ideas and we are looking forward to working with them,” said Vinai Venkatesham, Arsenal’s chief commercial officer.

“The club has always placed a big emphasis on being pioneering and innovative and we plan to continue this by working with smart-thinking businesses to help us identify ground-breaking ideas to take us forwards.”

Applications are now open for Arsenal Innovation Lab’s first 10-week programme, which will be run in collaboration with corporate innovation specialist L Marks.

Stuart Marks, chair of L Marks, said: "Though based in London, Arsenal has global support which presents amazing opportunities for new businesses working on digital fan engagement and other relevant solutions to work with the club."