More great news for creatives in the tech space, as the UK government has confirmed up to £20 million for the Tay Cities Region in Scotland to grow its creative tech sector. The announcement was made by UK Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, who says the funding will help local innovators take their ideas to the next level.
The money comes from the £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, that’s within the government’s £86 billion research and development settlement running until 2030. According to the DSIT, 10 regions across the UK have already received £360 million through the fund, and that includes Glasgow City Region, Cardiff Capital Region and an innovation bridge for Belfast and Derry Londonderry.
The Tay Cities award is for Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth and Kinross. Final funding will be up to how discussions between UK Research and Innovation and the local partnership go about which projects get the green light. Interest for the competitive strand of the £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund was high, with awards for other parts of the UK to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Dundee’s creative and digital industries generated £353 million in turnover in 2022, according to government data. That track record helped the region secure backing under the competitive strand of the fund.
Why Would The Government Back Creative Technology In The Tay Cities Specifically?
Ministers say the area already has a strong reputation in video games, design and immersive technology.
Announcing the funding, Liz Kendall said:
“This is an investment in the skills and talent which have turned the Tay Cities Region into one of the UK’s most vibrant tech sectors.”
She added: “The region’s incredible creative industries are already leading the way when it comes to games development and breakthroughs in virtual reality.”
Kendall said the funding would help take that expertise further. “This funding will help take that expertise to the next level, helping to create jobs and growth in Dundee, Perth and beyond. By working with local leaders, researchers, and businesses, we can unleash transformational research and products that improve lives.”
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The government believes the technology developed in Dundee can reach far outside entertainment. Virtual reality tools could bring museum tours to life for millions of people. Digital production techniques could transform film sets, replacing green screens with fully immersive environments.
Who Is Involved And What Could It Mean For Jobs?
The programme will be led by Abertay University, known for its work in games and virtual production. It will work with partners including 4J Studios, UK Games Talent and Finance, CodeBase, Creative Scotland, the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and V&A Dundee.
Gregor White, Professor of Applied Creativity at Abertay University and Director of CoSTAR Realtime Lab at Dundee’s Water’s Edge, said, “The Tay Cities Region is a hotbed of creativity, design-thinking and innovation and has forged a global reputation not just as the UK’s video games capital, but as an international hub for the tech sector.”
He continued, saying, “By aligning next level and future-focused R&D with the existing strengths of the regional and national tech ecosystem, we have a generational opportunity to accelerate economic opportunities in the area and to create new companies, products and services that will have a real impact on people’s lives.”
Professor Sir Ian Chapman, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, said, “UKRI is excited to work with the Tay Cities Region Local Innovation Partnership as they accelerate their plans to spark innovation and drive growth. The region has real strengths in games development and design-led R&D, and we’ve been proud to support those capabilities over many years.
“By building on that strong foundation, this investment will help unlock new opportunities, boost productivity and grow the regional economy. We’re looking forward to achieving that together.”
UK government Minister for Scotland, Kirsty McNeill, said, “Dundee’s video games legacy is iconic and this investment will leverage that unique industrial strength to drive breakthroughs in non-entertainment sectors like healthcare, energy, and education. It is a hugely exciting opportunity for all of Scotland.”
“I am delighted that the Tay Cities Region has been successful in securing funding, which will help the region unlock its full innovation potential. The UK government is completely focused on driving economic growth, creating jobs and improving lives across Scotland,” she added.
