A newly released economic impact report sheds light on the influential role played by InGAME, the pioneering national testbed for video games innovation, in driving the UK’s video games sector to new heights. Situated in the vibrant city of Dundee, the InGAME Research and Development Center has emerged as a beacon of innovation, validating a novel model for fostering innovation ecosystems across the nation.
Key Findings from the Impact Report:
- Estimated £84.7 Million GVA for the UK Video Games Economy: Companies collaborating with InGAME are projected to generate an astounding £84.7 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK economy over the decade spanning 2023 to 2032.
- Impressive Growth Within Tay Cities Region: Within the Tay Cities Region, InGAME is expected to create £55.3 million GVA and generate 115 jobs, serving as a catalyst for economic progress in the region.
- Leveraging UK Public Funding for R&D: For every £1 of UK public funding invested, InGAME stimulates £2.08 of private investment in Research and Development (R&D) from industry partners, proving its efficacy in driving innovation.
Fueling Growth through a Holistic Approach:
InGAME’s mission revolves around elevating the Dundee video games cluster, fueling its growth and value through innovation across products, services, and experiences. This approach is manifested through a multi-pronged strategy encompassing:
- Collaborative Applied Research
- Video Games Cluster Development Support
- Innovation Challenges
InGAME’s Innovation Voucher Scheme has provided funding for over 177 research projects, while training and engagement activities have upskilled more than 2,200 games industry professionals and researchers. A survey conducted by Interface revealed that 76% of companies collaborating with InGAME have developed new games, products, services, or original intellectual property (IP), with 72% pioneering new tools and technologies.
Praise from Industry Leaders:
Dr. Richard Wilson OBE, CEO of The Independent Games Association (TIGA):
“No other UK university has the equivalent of InGAME – a distinct initiative that has benefited the video games industry and assisted the UK Government.”
Deborah Fox, Director of Creative Innovation at Nesta:
“I can’t speak highly enough of InGAME. It has so many strengths: deep domain expertise; a hugely collaborative and open approach; a very practical application of complicated technology; and a willingness to get stuck into a complex problem, to work with us to solve it.”
Colin Anderson, Denki:
“The potential benefits of connecting the frenetic, cutting-edge research being done inside Dundee’s games companies with the region’s world-class academic sector has been understood for a long time, but it has never proven possible to sustain it in practice for various reasons. The pioneering thinking and innovative approaches implemented by InGAME has proven to be the best model yet for realizing this potential, and provides the foundation needed to cement this long-needed partnership for the future.”
Brian Baglow, Scottish Games Network:
“The work undertaken with InGAME was ground-breaking and invaluable in understanding the challenges facing Scotland’s rapidly evolving games sector. It was the most comprehensive research undertaken into the games industry in Scotland and will directly support the creation of an ecosystem-wide cluster which can implement all of the solutions proposed by the research and create a more consistently successful and collaborative games sector.”
Director of InGAME Sean Taylor:
“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:
“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:
“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:
“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.”
Positioning Dundee as a Global Gaming Hub:
The impact of InGAME has extended beyond the UK borders, as it played a pivotal role in securing preferred bidder status for Abertay University to host one of four new UK virtual production labs. The Dundee lab specialises in research and innovation for virtual production—a cutting-edge cinematography technique employing computer-generated imagery (CGI), LED screens, and motion capture to create virtual movie sets.
To access the full BiGGAR Economics impact report on InGAME, click here: InGAME Economic Impact Assessment
Conclusion:
InGAME stands as the AHRC center for research and innovation in games and immersive technologies, driving growth and innovation within the Dundee video games cluster. Fueled by experimental research and collaborative R&D efforts between industry and academia, InGAME’s significance is underscored by its tangible impact on the UK’s thriving creative sector. With support from the AHRC’s Creative Industries Clusters Programme and the Scottish Funding Council, InGAME continues to lead the charge in pioneering innovation and fostering a world-class video games industry.
