£20m backing for Tayside’s creative sector – Daily Business

Paddy Burns and Chris Van Der Kuyl of 4J Studios

Creative businesses in the Dundee and Perth area will benefit from a £20 million boost from the Westminster government to fast-track ideas into commercial ventures.

The funding from UK Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendal will help computer games and virtual reality firms in the Tay Cities Region which embraces Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth and Kinross.

It aims to get prototype ideas to market, back collaborative R&D, attract expert talent, and open up clear routes to investment and new markets.

Dundee’s creative and digital industries generated £353 million turnover in 2022 and many of the skills in the region are being leveraged for breatkthrough developments in healthcare, energy and education.

Ms Kendall said: “The region’s incredible creative industries are already leading the way when it comes to games development and breakthroughs in virtual reality.

“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.”

UK government Minister for Scotland, Kirsty McNeill added: “The UK government is completely focused on driving economic growth, creating jobs and improving lives across Scotland.”

The support package comes from £500m Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, backed by the UK government’s record £86 billion R&D settlement.

Ten regions were earmarked for a share of funding last year from across the four nations, including Glasgow City Region, which will target £50m support to its health & life sciences sector.

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.”

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