The InGAME R&D centre in Dundee has catalysed significant growth for the UK’s video games industry validating a new model for innovation ecosystems across the country.
Established in 2018 by Abertay University, in collaboration with the University of Dundee, the University of St Andrews and industry partners, InGAME (Innovation for Games and Media Enterprise) is the national testbed for video games innovation. The project is part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) Creative Industries Clusters Programme, funded by the UK Government, and receives additional investment from the Scottish Funding Council.
A report from BiGGAR Economics launched today (AUGUST 2) has shown the economic and societal impacts of the project, concluding that companies collaborating with InGAME are expected to generate an estimated £84.7m GVA for the UK economy over the 10-year period 2023-2032, with £55.3 million GVA and 115 jobs to be generated within the Tay Cities Region alone.
In its impact analysis, the report noted that for every £1 of UK public funding invested, InGAME is expected to generate a total of £15.90 GVA for the UK economy and stimulated £2.08 of R&D investment from industry partners.
InGAME’s goal was to prove the impact R&D can have on a city video games cluster, increasing scale and value in Dundee through product, service and experience innovation via:
- collaborative applied research
- video games cluster development support
- innovation challenges
To date more than 177 research projects have been funded through InGAME’s innovation voucher scheme and more than 2,200 games industry professionals and researchers have been upskilled through training and engagement activities.
A survey carried out by Interface showed that 76% of companies that have worked with InGAME have developed one or more new games, products, services or original pieces of IP, with 72% developing new tools or technology.
Director of InGAME Sean Taylor said: “The video games industry holds massive value for the UK but it is a sector that must keep up with the rapid pace of digital innovation and increasingly tough competition from overseas games development hubs. Since its launch, InGAME has grown to become a convening power at the heart of the Dundee cluster, working with the region’s talented video game studios to address strategic challenges, unlock potential, and broker valuable new partnerships - both within the games industry itself and with wider UK industry. The success of the InGAME cluster underlines the creative, cultural and economic importance of our world class video games industry and demonstrates the value of AHRC’s sustained investment in the UK’s creative sector.”
AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said: “This impact report underlines the tangible value of cultivating an innovation ecosystem for each of the UK’s games clusters.”
Helen Cross, the Scottish Funding Council’s Director of Research and Innovation, said: “Today’s figures confirm the positive impact InGAME’s research and development has had on the UK games industry and on the economy of the Tay Cities Region. We’re proud to have been involved in the project from its earliest days and to be continuing to make an investment in its success.”
Dundee’s Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Convener Councillor Steven Rome said: “Games development is a key pillar of the local economy, and it’s no surprise that the city was recently named alongside Seoul, Las Vegas, Tokyo and Seattle in a list of the world’s most established gaming hubs. InGAME is at the heart of that, turning ideas into real economic value and employment in Dundee and across the country, and demonstrates the strong partnership working that has been established here.”
The impact of InGAME was instrumental in Abertay University securing preferred bidder status to host one of four new UK virtual production labs. Funded through UKRI’s Convergent Screen Technologies and performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) programme, the Dundee lab will specialise in research and innovation for virtual production, a new cinematography technique that uses computer-generated imagery (CGI), LED screens and motion capture to create virtual movie sets.
To request the BiGGAR Economics impact report on InGAME in full visit: https://innovationforgames.com/crd/ingame-economic-impact-assessment/
Abertay University
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