A huge new Dundee project specialising in virtual production could boost the city’s tech industry

The CoSTAR Realtime Lab (Picture: Supplied)

Dundee’s growing reputation as a global centre for creative technology has received another major boost, with the CoSTAR Realtime Lab spearheading an ambitious new project aimed at transforming virtual film production.

Launched earlier this year and led by Abertay University, the CoSTAR Realtime Lab is positioning Dundee at the forefront of Scotland’s screen and immersive media industries.

Its latest collaboration marks a major step in developing new tools and workflows for virtual environments, bringing together cutting-edge digital innovation and traditional model-making expertise.

The Lab has teamed up with Satore Technology, a sister company of Satore Studio, to explore the potential for establishing a permanent base in Dundee.

Satore already operates in England, Portugal and the US, and the move could pave the way for a new spin-out company within the city, strengthening Dundee’s role as a hub for creative innovation.

Through this feasibility project, the collaboration will explore how physical model sets and props can be integrated with real-time and game engine technologies.

The goal is to develop new production practices that enhance the possibilities of immersive storytelling and virtual filmmaking. The initiative could also lead to new internships, jobs and opportunities across Dundee’s creative tech ecosystem, supporting local talent and universities.

Sustainability will play a key part in the project, with teams focusing on reducing material use, travel and energy consumption to create more environmentally responsible production methods.

Satore Technology was founded by award-winning digital artist Tupac Martir, whose work spans lighting design, performative reality and the integration of advanced technologies across music, fashion, theatre and film.

Martir’s portfolio includes work on Find Your Eyes by Benji Reid, which earned him the 2024 Profile Award for Outstanding Achievement in Innovation, as well as contributions to Amazon Prime’s Emmy-winning series Fallout.

Satore has been pioneering new techniques in virtual production since 2017, and its partnership with Abertay University aims to build on that foundation by creating new workflows and pipelines that evolve the virtual production landscape.

The company is in the process of establishing a presence in Dundee, seeking to tap into the city’s growing pool of creative and technical talent.

The collaboration has been described as a huge vote of confidence in Dundee’s creative industries and talent, bringing together traditional craft and advanced technology in ways that could redefine how immersive worlds are built.

The partnership has been supported by the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund, managed by Interface and the Scottish Government, with Abertay University among six Scottish universities to receive funding in the latest round of the programme.