For over 900 years, St Giles’ Cathedral has stood as an iconic landmark in the heart of Edinburgh, welcoming over 1.4 million visitors annually.
But unravelling the mysteries of its construction and bringing its rich history to life has been a challenge – until now.
In a groundbreaking collaboration for its 900th year, the world-famous cathedral has joined forces with the University of Glasgow’s Games and Gaming Lab (UofGGamesLab), and game development studio Education Evolved, for Project HeritAIge.
Through this pioneering initiative, St Giles’ Cathedral has been recreated in a captivating historical video game, transporting visitors through its architectural evolution with the aim of engaging as wide a range of public audiences as possible.
This new freely available game, playable in web browsers and in the Cathedral itself, will allow visitors to build St Giles’ as they answer questions and learn about the Cathedral’s history and architecture.
Stephen Preston, Deputy Head of Heritage and Culture at St Giles’ Cathedral, said: “I knew showing how the Cathedral was built had to be an interactive experience and probably digital. Thanks to Interface, who put us in touch with the future Project Lead Dr Tim Peacock and his team, we will be realising this vision.”
“UofGGamesLab really is at the cutting edge of how we interpret heritage sites. It’s great for Scotland (and St Giles’) to have such institutions, and the Advanced Research Centre (ARC) as a whole, on our doorstep.”
Matthew Leeper, the Managing Director and spokesperson for Education Evolved, said: “Being a part of this project, and bringing the cathedral to life in a new and innovative way, designed to engage and educate people who visit St Giles’ and visit their website around the world, has been a great initiative to be a part of.”
Departing from traditional text and sign-based interpretation methods, the game will immerse players in the Cathedral’s various ages through original artwork and multilayered information. As they answer questions and learn about the site’s history and architecture, visitors will virtually reconstruct St Giles’.
This project represents a co-creative collaboration between academia, public bodies, charities and industry. Facilitated by Interface and engaging the innovative education technology company Education Evolved Ltd on game development, HeritAIge has explored responsibly using AI to translate heritage sites into game form.
Louise Arnold, Business Engagement Executive, Interface, said: “The challenge facing St Giles’ Cathedral is one facing many visitor attractions today – how do you attract more visitors on any given day. It’s been great working with St Giles’ Cathedral connecting them to Dr Tim Peacock at University of Glasgow Games Lab, and the collaboration with Education Evolved Ltd who saw the vision to undertake a cross-disciplinary research initiative exploring AI, cultural heritage and historical data translated into a research-informed historical video game.
“It’s amazing to now see the working prototype of the interactive game, enabling visitors to delve into a virtual world of history and heritage.”
Dr Tim Peacock added: “We hope this research-informed game will contribute to making the already truly remarkable historic site of St Giles’ accessible to new generations of visitors from around the world.”
A pilot for this initiative greatly benefited from the Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher scheme, managed by Interface, and the main project has been made possible by significant support from the University of Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Funding and by finance from St Giles’ Cathedral.
The project was hosted by the University of Glasgow’s world-leading Advanced Research Centre (ARC). Among its objectives, HeritAIge has explored new methods of translating heritage sites into game form, including ways of responsibly using (or of not using) AI to achieve this goal.
To play the game please click here
Image shows Rev Dr George Whyte, Interim Moderator of St Giles’ Cathedral, viewing the new historical video game launched for St Giles’ Cathedral’s 900th anniversary. Photo by Martin Shields.
The Inward Investment Catalyst Fund from Interface and the Scottish Government is aimed at attracting businesses out with Scotland, through developing partnerships with universities, research institutes, colleges and innovation centres.
Funding of up to £10,000 will be awarded to successful applications in this round, with a further competitive call expected later in the year.
Since its launch in 2021, the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund has awarded £250,000 to 25 projects from energy transition and the decarbonisation of transport to health tech, and from companies headquartered as far afield as South Africa, Singapore and the United States. Engagement has led to further opportunities with facilities such as the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland and the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment enhancing the Inward Investment proposition.
As a result, four companies now have a presence in Scotland and many have engaged in longer-term collaborations with academic institutions, including a number of PhD Studentships and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
Minister for Employment and Investment Tom Arthur said: “Attracting inward investment is a key lever to driving economic growth and creating high quality jobs. Scotland has established itself as the top performing part of the UK for attracting investment outside London, and I am determined that we continue to maintain this momentum.
“Our universities and academics have a vital role in helping to grow Scotland’s economy and the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund has encouraged strong collaboration between prospective investors and our world-class academic institutions. I look forward to this year’s catalyst funding helping to develop more academic-business collaborations and new opportunities that could lead to prospective investors setting up operations in Scotland.”
A previous recipient of the fund, Smartify, worked with the University of the West of Scotland to develop their app for the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
Thanos Kokkiniotis, Smartify CEO, said: “Our project, funded through the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund, was a unique opportunity to combine innovation seed funding with academic expertise and commercial traction in a way that rarely happens. The University of the West of Scotland Creative Computing Technologies Research Group allowed us to develop and maintain a healthy balance between commercial objectives, tech capabilities and expertise, building in a way we were never able to do before, and we now have an office and a team in Scotland.”
Howell Davies, Interface’s Head of Strategic Programmes and Funding, added: “As well as the expected outcomes we are seeing from the initial business – academic projects, many have led to broader relationships and access to support strengthening the case for companies to establish a base here in Scotland, as Smartify has achieved.”
The deadline for applications is Friday 26 July, 2024. More information can be found here.
Read more about the app development between Smartify and the University of the West of Scotland here.
Image shows the Smartify app in action at a major art gallery. Companies such as Smartify have worked with Scottish academics to develop their products, with the help of Interface and Scottish Government funding.
Innovative people and partnerships in the world of business-academic collaborations were celebrated at the 9th Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards in Glasgow today (Thursday, March 14, 2024).
The awards, held at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, recognised winners across seven categories for their achievements in research and development between organisations, colleges and universities.
Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead said: “These awards highlight valuable collaborations in Scotland which are developing cutting-edge innovations to make a real difference to people’s lives.
“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting information exchange between businesses and academia. An example is our Inward Investment Catalyst Fund, which since its launch in 2021, has supported 25 businesses outside of Scotland to collaborate on projects with Scottish academic institutions, with an ambition of attracting inward investment.”
Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, which organises the Awards, added: “The nomination process has surfaced some great examples of business-academic partnerships that demonstrate immense creativity, novel approaches and ingenuity taking place in all sectors of industry and in communities throughout Scotland. Particularly strong this year are health and environmental developments, which push boundaries and will benefit many individuals and communities.”
The winners are:
Innovation of the Year – sponsored by HGF Ltd
Prozymi Biolabs Ltd, and The University of Edinburgh for developing a pipeline for identification and characterisation of novel gluten-degrading enzymes. These enzymes can be used for production of tasty and affordable wheat-based gluten-free bread, providing a realistic alternative for people with gluten intolerance.
Innovator of the Future
Dr Maria Martinez Castillero, KTP Associate working with The University of Edinburgh and Beta Bugs Ltd, for improving Black Soldier Fly genetic performance, as a high-quality protein source for livestock, through developing, testing and implementing the key data infrastructure and workflow for the Beat Bugs breeding programme, ensuring that genetic progress can be measured and tracked.
Knowledge Exchange Champion – sponsored by PraxisAuril
Professor Sir Michael Ferguson for his continuous commitment to highly impactful Knowledge Exchange from Scotland’s life sciences research base spanning over 18 years. His achievements include forming the University of Dundee’s unique translational Drug Discovery Unit, supporting at least eight successful spin-out companies and championing the creation of a Life Sciences Innovation District in Dundee.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes (individual)
Michelle Skotzen, Edinburgh College, for being an Innovation Champion for the college sector, collaborating cross college and the sector to provide solutions for businesses and promoting the support colleges can offer to adopt and diffuse innovation. Working within the college’s Business Development team, Michelle has co-ordinated the development of a comprehensive innovation portfolio in the space of just 18 months.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes (team)
The Wellcome iTPA Team operates an embedded human health and wellbeing innovation accelerator programme at The University of Edinburgh. Innovative, agile and operating at scale, the team has supported over 1,000 early career researchers and established the first, largest and most engaged community of over 1,300 researchers. The team has supported over 180 projects with £1.8M in direct funding and returned £12.2M in further funding, a 600% return on investment.
Making a Social Difference – sponsored by Community Enterprise In Scotland (CEIS)
A joint venture between University of the West of Scotland and Kibble Education & Care Centre focusing on the development of a self-harm and suicide detection and health monitoring system for young people who have high-risk emotional and behavioural challenges who would otherwise require constant supervision from highly trained staff.
Highly Commended
West College Scotland and The Bettii Pod Ltd for collaborating on the design and development of a menstrual cup washer and sanitiser which can be installed in away-from-home cubicles.
The product’s purpose is to support sustainable menstrual practices, offer an eco-friendly menstrual choice, address period poverty by improving access to sanitation facilities, and mitigate health concerns related to inadequate washing facilities.
Making an Environmental Difference – sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland
The Flow Country Partnership, working with University of the Highlands & Islands Environmental Research Institute, have the collective aims of re-evaluating the blanket bog peatlands of the Flow Country and ensuring, through individual and collective action, that outcomes related to climate change mitigation, natural capital, sustainability and biodiversity conservation are optimised. It also seeks to ensure that the social and economic benefits arising from appropriate and effective management of this globally significant natural are optimised.
Multiparty Collaboration
Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE), a collaboration between University of the Highlands and Islands and multiple partners in the public and private sector, has created, through the rigorous and technology-agnostic evaluation of low-carbon technologies, a blueprint for the commercialisation of green regional aircraft operations, providing increased resilience for communities and businesses in remote and rural locations.
Earlier this week, (26th February) Interface and Food and Drink Federation Scotland (FDF Scotland) hosted an event at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, Celebrating Reformulation and Innovation for Health.
This followed on from funding calls developed to support activity and projects for food and drink companies and gave an opportunity not only to hear about the work being done but also informing and inspiring others to improve the health of their products. The call for action to address the nation’s diet and diet-related illness has never been stronger.
Recipe reformulation is rated as one of the most effective ways industry can help improve dietary health in Scotland, and speakers from industry, academia, public sector and government offered their insights into the work they are undertaking to achieve this.
In a video address, Jenni Minto, MSP and Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, thanked the food and drink industry for their hard work and dedication to improve the diet and health of the population. Ms Minto said that reformulation was a fascinating way to improve the health properties of the food and drink regularly consumed and that she was impressed by the reformulation work undertaken.
Joanne Burns, Reformulation for Health Manager at FDF Scotland, set the scene for the day recognising that food producers cannot do this alone; a holistic approach across the whole food system is needed. Their Reformul8 Partnership is designed to link up all the stakeholders involved in getting a healthier, reformulated product onto the dinner table or packed lunch.
Laura Wilson from Food Standards Scotland and Lesley Ann Gray from Kantar offered insights on policy and research highlighting the importance of reformulating aspects of the Scottish diet to promote healthier lifestyles all round.
Speakers from Queen Margaret University, Abertay University and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) then gave examples of how they have been able to support industry through the help of the Healthier Products Innovation Fund, an £80,000 fund for companies to work with Scottish academia.
Delegates heard about innovative reformulation projects including recipe development, reducing or replacing ingredients such as salt, fat, sugar and palm oil for manufacturers, fortification and the specialist facilities they house to support projects to create healthier products.
Lucinda Bryce-Gardyne, Chair of Scotland Food & Drink and founder of Genius Foods, provided some of her own experiences and passion for science as part of a panel, which she led. The panel discussed the importance of innovation and the role academia has to play through understanding the science behind each of the components and how they interact to develop healthier products, while ensuring they are just as desirable for the consumer. The panel was joined by Prozymi Biolabs Ltd, who are working to make gluten-safe bread and bakery products for consumers with coeliac or gluten sensitivity by denaturing the toxic parts of the gluten protein in wheat flour.
Howell Davies, Head of Strategic Programmes at Interface, stated: “It was a well attended event with plenty of lively discussion and interactions across all delegates, speakers and exhibitors. The whole vibe to the day reflected the appetite of the food industry in Scotland to continue to improve the health of their products.
“We heard from a wide array of expert support and some great examples of those who have made changes to their product which will also improve the health of their businesses and the health of the nation.”
The afternoon session was opened by Gary Maclean, Scotland’s National Chef, who announced the latest winners of the Reformul8 Challenge Fund. He described how food in Scotland has developed over time and the focus he has personally put on cutting back on certain ingredients whilst promoting others, such as protein and fibre. Other speakers that afternoon included FDF Scotland, Growers Garden, Simon Howie Foods, Ulrick & Short, Saltsmith and Healy Group.
Growers Garden and Simon Howie Foods spoke on their individual reformulation projects that they had completed with assistance from the Reformul8 programme, while the latter three speakers provided insights to their work within the reformulation space providing interesting insights into HFSS as well as tools and products they have available to assist manufacturers with this challenge.
If you are interested in learning more about reformulation and product development and how academia could support you and your business please do get in touch.
Photo shows Howell Davies, Interface, and Joanne Burns, FDF Scotland, signing a pledge for healthier food and drink.
Photo caption: our shortlist for the Knowledge Exchange Heroes (individual) category – Ellen Pauley, University of Dundee; Michelle Skotzen, Edinburgh College and Dr Marieke Hoeve, The University of Edinburgh.
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The people and partnerships behind ground-breaking innovations are being celebrated this Valentine’s Day with the unveiling of the shortlist for the 2024 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards.
Organised by business-academic matchmaking organisation Interface, the Awards celebrate successful partnerships at the cutting-edge of research and development, from local micro-businesses to globally significant discoveries, partnering with universities, colleges and research institutes to change lives in Scotland and beyond.
Now in it’s 9th year, the Awards ceremony will take place at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow on 14th March, when the winners will be presented with awards in seven categories.
The finalists are:
Innovation of the Year – sponsored by HGF Ltd
The Bettii Pod Ltd, and West College Scotland for collaborating on the design and development of Bettii, a menstrual cup washer and sanitiser which can be installed in away-from-home cubicles. The product’s purpose is to support sustainable menstrual practices, offer an eco-friendly menstrual choice, address period poverty by improving access to sanitation facilities, and mitigate health concerns related to inadequate washing facilities.
Green Cross Medico Ltd, and Edinburgh Napier University for developing a new innovate medical product. The thermal vasodilatory device is designed to improve Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) treatment outcomes, increase patient mobility, minimise leg amputations and deliver cost savings to the NHS.
Prozymi Biolabs Ltd, and The University of Edinburgh for developing a pipeline for identification and characterisation of novel gluten-degrading enzymes using mass spectrometry. These enzymes can be used for production of tasty and affordable wheat-based gluten-free bread, providing a realistic alternative for people with gluten intolerance.
Innovator of the Future
Dr Maria Martinez Castillero, KTP Associate working with The University of Edinburgh and Beta Bugs Ltd, for improving Black Soldier Fly genetic performance, as a high-quality protein source for livestock, through developing, testing and implementing the key data infrastructure and workflow for the Beat Bugs breeding programme, ensuring that genetic progress could be measured and tracked.
Dr Irene Mazzei, KTP Associate working with Edinburgh Napier University and Stoane Lighting, for improving the company’s environmental impact quantification, allowing a Life Cycle Assessment strategy to be created. In addition, Irene haspromoted the use of Life Cycle Assessment and other sustainability topics for the lighting industry.
Knowledge Exchange Champion – sponsored by PraxisAuril
Professor Eyad Elyan is a renowned researcher in Machine Learning and AI and leads Robert Gordon University’s Interactive Machine Vision research Group. He has pioneered the development of AI-driven solutions across different domains and helped businesses to intelligently transform existing practices.
Professor Sir Michael Ferguson for his continuous commitment to highly impactful Knowledge Exchange from Scotland’s life sciences research base spanning over 18 years. His achievements include forming the University of Dundee’s unique translational Drug Discovery Unit, supporting at least eight successful spin-out companies and championing the creation of a Life Sciences Innovation District in Dundee.
Deborah Keogh is the first ever Knowledge Exchange Manager at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Deborah’s leadership has turbo-charged KE at the Conservatoire and promoted it as an energetic, creative, innovative and critical element of their work. Deborah’s collaborations with other Higher Education Institutions and micro businesses have changed the landscape of KE support for the creative industries.
Knowledge Exchange Heroes
Due to the high quality and number of applications received this year the category has been split into two, with awards to recognise individual and team knowledge exchange heroes.
Individual
Dr Marieke Hoeve, The University of Edinburgh, for delivering a unique Masters by Research programme in regenerative medicine that offers training and placements in academic and industrial/third sector organisations, propelling the careers of postgraduates and contributing to a skilled workforce in this fast-growing life sciences sector that faces a critical scarcity of specialised professionals that urgently needs addressing to bring advanced therapies to clinic.
Ellen Pauley, Innovation Co-ordinator at University of Dundee, for continually developing and delivering initiatives that have significantly increased interest, engagement, and funding of Knowledge Exchange with regional businesses, through creative thinking, a professional attitude and exceptional customer service.
Michelle Skotzen, Edinburgh College, for being an Innovation Champion for the college sector, collaborating cross college and the sector to provide solutions for businesses and promoting the support colleges can offer to adopt and diffuse innovation. Working within the college’s Business Development team, Michelle has co-ordinated the development of a comprehensive innovation portfolio in the space of just 18 months.
Team
The North of Scotland KTP Centre Team cultivates a truly collaborative approach to maximising the reach and impact of the Innovate UK-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme, supporting the development and delivery of transformative innovation with demonstrable benefits for all project participants and their wider stakeholder groups across the region, Scotland, and the whole UK.
One Ocean Hub’s Early Career Researchers (ECRs) Team at University of Strathclyde are an international and multidisciplinary team working on the ground-breaking and innovative approaches towards achieving the goal of inclusive and equitable ocean governance, whereby the people and the environment can flourish using expertise spanning environmental and human rights law, marine biology social sciences, environmental humanities, arts and history, to name but a few.
The Wellcome iTPA Team operates an embedded human health and wellbeing innovation accelerator programme at The University of Edinburgh. Innovative, agile and operating at scale, the team has supported over 1,000 early career researchers and established the first, largest and most engaged community of over 1,300 researchers. The team has supported over 180 projects with £1.8M in direct funding and returned £12.2M in further funding, a 600% return on investment.
Making a Social Difference – sponsored by Community Enterprise In Scotland (CEIS)
West College Scotland and The Bettii Pod Ltd for collaborating on the design and development of a menstrual cup washer and sanitiser which can be installed in away-from-home cubicles. The product’s purpose is to support sustainable menstrual practices, offer an eco-friendly menstrual choice, address period poverty by improving access to sanitation facilities, and mitigate health concerns related to inadequate washing facilities.
A joint venture between University of the West of Scotland and Kibble Education & Care Centre focuses on the development of a self-harm and suicide detection and health monitoring system for young people who have high-risk emotional and behavioural challenges that would otherwise require constant supervision from highly trained staff.
Scottish Ballet and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) for Elevate, a dance programme for people with Multiple sclerosis (MS). It aims to positively impact on the wellbeing of participant dancers through offering a range of non-pharmacological tools and strategies that support self-management of symptoms commonly associated with MS. Collaboration and co-creation with research partner the RCS has been key in design and delivery and further development.
Making an Environmental Difference – sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland
Anderson Bell & Christie Architects and the University of Strathclyde collaborating on a Zero Carbon Neighbourhood Toolkit that provides a data-driven, evidence-based method for designing both individual buildings and entire neighbourhoods. The toolkit supports local authorities, housing associations and developers in site appraisals, selecting the right location in regard to net zero targets, improving biodiversity, community health and well-being by place-based carbon reduction and sequestration solutions.
Fido Tech Ltd and University of the West of Scotland, working with and a Knowledge Transfer Partner to use AI technology to reduce water utility costs, lowering carbon emissions and helping reduce water scarcity and water poverty across the globe.
The Flow Country Partnership, working with University of the Highlands & Islands Environmental Research Institute, have the collective aims of re-evaluating the blanket bog peatlands of the Flow Country and ensuring through individual and collective action that outcomes related to climate change mitigation, natural capital, sustainability and biodiversity conservation are optimised. It also seeks to ensure that the social and economic benefits arising from appropriate and effective management of this globally significant natural are optimised.
Multiparty Collaboration
The University of Dundee’s Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT) is a collaboration with three global pharmaceutical companies. DSTT has accelerated its partner companies’ drug programmes, and has also anchored Dundee’s investments from the Medical Research Council, and spawned a profitable reagents / specialist services business for global academic and industry R&D.
The University of Aberdeen’s Scottish Medical Education Research Consortium, Trickle and NHS Lothian for developing a ground-breaking wellbeing app entitled How Was Your Day? This innovative tool, backed by research working synergistically with leading edge technology, provides a uniquely tailored solution to employee engagement, enabling the transformation of workplace wellbeing, and enhancing the daily experiences for users.
Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE), a collaboration between University of the Highlands and Islands and multiple partners in the public and private sector, has created, through the rigorous and technology-agnostic evaluation of low-carbon technologies, a blueprint for the commercialisation of green regional aircraft operations, providing increased resilience for communities and businesses in remote and rural locations.
The winners will be announced at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow on 14th March.
Join the conversation on X at #ScotKEAwards and LinkedIn @Interface – The knowledge connection for business.
Four companies based in England and one in Singapore are taking forward collaborations with Scottish universities after being awarded funding through the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund.
The Fund was launched by Interface and Scottish Government to support businesses not yet located in Scotland to work with Scottish academic institutions. From advancements in hydrogen energy technology to a heated desk, the projects in this latest funding round support a net zero, health and wellbeing economy.
Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade, Richard Lochhead, said: “The Inward Investment Catalyst Fund is not only paving the way for great collaboration between prospective investors and our highly esteemed universities and academia, but also helping deliver on our ambition for Scotland to be an increasingly attractive location for inward investment.
“The early impacts of the fund have been extremely positive and I am pleased to see another successful round of applications set to support more exciting projects. Through the delivery of the Inward Investment Plan, the Scottish Government will continue to help ensure we make the most of our competitive advantages and strengths to maintain our position as a leading destination for inward investment.”
Howell Davies, Interface’s Head of Strategic Programmes and Funding, said: “I am delighted to see another round of strong applications which has yielded five innovative projects marrying ambitious companies who value Scotland as a place of opportunity with the excellent academic expertise and facilities we have here.”
The five funded projects are:
Extend Robotics (England) and Heriot-Watt University awarded £9,559 to study the impact of a remote robotic training system used by non-technical operators in various industry settings.
Green Flow Energy (England) and Glasgow Caledonian University awarded £9,894 for a feasibility study into developing technology that captures kinetic energy through airflow created by electric buses to increase its operating range.
Simul Software Ltd (England) and University of St Andrews awarded £10,000 to further develop their Teleport protocol for apps using extended reality in the cloud by testing the protocol in commercial gaming systems and the heritage sector.
SunGreenH2 (Singapore) and Heriot-Watt University awarded £10,000 to validate their solar photovoltaics (PV) integrated electrolyser performance in green hydrogen generation, accounting for seasonal differences.
Okoform (England) and University of Strathclyde awarded £9,759.60 to model the effect of their heated desks on energy usage and office air temperature through an advanced thermal modelling framework across various scenarios.
- New R&D facilities in Dundee and Edinburgh announced as part of £75.6m UK Government programme
Scotland’s screen and performance industries are to be boosted by a new multimillion R&D lab with sites based in Dundee and Edinburgh.
The Convergent Screen Technologies and Performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) programme funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) was launched at Beyond Conference, London. Included amongst five UK labs is the CoSTAR Realtime Lab, led by Abertay University in Dundee in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, Interface, Chroma Developments and the Scottish Government’s Techscaler programme.
The CoSTAR national network will provide researchers, companies and institutions across the UK with the infrastructure they need to conduct world-class research and development (R&D) in screen and performance technology. It will specialise in virtual production – a new cinematography technique which uses computer-generated imagery (CGI), augmented reality and motion capture to create virtual film and performance sets.
Supported with £75.6 million of funding from AHRC with additional private co-investment, it will drive the design, development and creation of state-of-the-art facilities, resources and expertise to underpin the long-term competitiveness of the sectors.
Abertay University is the only institution to have been selected by AHRC to work across two network sites and will also be a key partner on the CoSTAR National Lab led by Royal Holloway, University of London, in partnership with Pinewood Studios, BT, disguise and the University of Surrey.
The primary CoSTAR Realtime Lab will be constructed at Water’s Edge in Dundee (a site owned by Chroma Developments) with a second CoSTAR Realtime Lab site to be based at Edinburgh College of Art at the University of Edinburgh. In addition to the core partners, CoSTAR Realtime is also supported by Scottish Enterprise, Screen Scotland and Amazon Web Services.
Professor Gregor White of Abertay University and CoSTAR Realtime Lab lead said: “The convergence of new technologies means that our screen media and performance sectors have become closer than ever before, providing a golden opportunity for companies to expand and diversify their offer. With a global reputation as a leader in technology and the birthplace of the video games industry, Scotland already has a strong backbone of large businesses and SMEs working in this space, ideally placed to take advantage of the growing demand. By working closely with our core partners and supporters, listening to the requirements of industry and linking into the future-focused work of the National Lab, CoSTAR Realtime will provide the R&D support needed to spark economic growth and innovation for this exciting new sector.”
Melissa Terras, Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage at the University of Edinburgh said: “Edinburgh’s arts and cultural communities are at the forefront of the creative industries. Our involvement in CoSTAR will ensure that a wide variety of creative practitioners have the opportunity and ability to engage with and access innovative virtual production facilities. In addition, the University of Edinburgh’s world-leading expertise in Artificial Intelligence will support the wider CoSTAR community. We’re delighted to be at the heart of this UK initiative, continuing to build a bridge between technology and the creative industries.”
Howell Davies, Head of Strategic Programmes and Funding at Interface said: “It is great to see the scoping, planning and strategic thinking coming to fruition as the Realtime Lab launches as part of the UKRI’s CoSTAR programme. The approach to build on previous creative cluster programmes and combine the strengths of the academic expertise, support organisations and investors are a strong foundation to help drive the next generation of visual effects technologies that will revolutionise the UK’s film, TV and performing arts industries.”
Stewart Clark, Managing Director of Chroma Developments said: “Bringing the CoSTAR Realtime Lab to Water’s Edge in Dundee further cements the city’s status as a world leader for the technology industry and there’s going to be enormous potential for companies across Scotland and further afield to take advantage of this leading-edge facility, supported by elite R&D expertise. Becoming part of the CoSTAR network represents another exciting step forward for Chroma Developments as we continue to grow our reach and we’re pleased to be laying these foundations to drive the next phase of the screen and performance industries.”
Lara Findlay, Head of Regional Engagement for Dundee & Tayside at Techscaler by CodeBase said: “The launch of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab presents an exciting opportunity for both Dundee and Scotland to explore advancements in screen and performance technology. The launch of this studio truly underscores the immense potential within our region, placing us on the path towards creative technology innovations that could significantly benefit Scotland’s tech sector, and CodeBase is excited to be a part of this collaboration through Techscaler.”
Watch the CoSTAR Realtime Lab launch video here:
Innovation Voucher funding, aimed at encouraging partnerships between a Scottish business and a university or college, receive a boost in value for the first time since they were launched in 2009.
Standard Innovation Vouchers and Student Placement Innovation Vouchers now offer a value of up to £7.5k, a rise from £5k.
Each Innovation Voucher supports businesses to develop novel and pioneering products, services and processes or develop the company’s internal workforce such as new or enhanced workplace processes, practices and expertise in collaboration with a university or college partner. The collaborations also impact academic research and teaching while enhancing business skills and industry experience to the academic teams and students involved.
Interface manages the Innovation Voucher Funding on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council. Since 2009 almost 1,900 Innovation Vouchers have been issued with a value of over £9.5m.
Alan Pratt, Head of Systems and Finance at Interface said: “This increase in funding is a significant step in enabling more academic time to be funded for collaborative research and development projects. We find that businesses who work with academics for the first time through Innovation Vouchers establish long lasting links and go on to work on other projects with the same or other university or college partners. It really is the start of an exciting journey for many.”
Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said: “Increasing the value of our innovation vouchers is great news for universities, colleges and the businesses they partner with.
“These partnerships are a fantastic way of combining academic expertise with the know-how and ambition of entrepreneurs wanting to create new products, services and processes. There have been some incredible examples of success in the last 14 years and today’s announcement is a commitment to that continuing into the future.”
To find out more about Innovation Vouchers please visit the website.
The search is on for Scotland’s top business-academic partnerships and individuals making a significant impact on economic, environmental and social prosperity through collaborative research and development.
Now in its ninth year, the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards is the flagship event celebrating the partnerships between business, third sector and public sector organisations and academia (universities, colleges and research institutes).
Interface, which connects businesses and academia, organises the awards. Director, Amelia Whitelaw, said: “There is a tremendous amount of ground-breaking research happening in Scotland between our innovative businesses and academic communities. They are pushing boundaries and making breakthroughs which are bringing huge benefits.
“We are excited to be shining a light on the people and partnerships behind these exciting developments, who are often working in the background. We hope that these awards inspire new projects, innovation and creativity.”
The seven award categories now open for entries are:
– Innovation of the Year – sponsored by HGF Limited
– Innovator of the Future
– Knowledge Exchange Champion – sponsored by PraxisAuril
– Knowledge Exchange Heroes
– Making a Social Difference – sponsored by Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS)
– Making an Environmental Difference – sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland
– Multiparty Collaboration
The judging panels, drawn from across the innovation ecosystem, will be looking at how the applications demonstrate collaboration, innovation, impacts achieved, and their legacies, as well as the potential to transform economic, social and environmental challenges.
The deadline for applications is 5pm, Wednesday 6th December 2023. The awards will be hosted by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, on Thursday 14th March, 2024.
Click here for entry toolkit and application forms.