Dundee and Tayside creative tech sector to receive a £20 million funding boost

The funding will help fuel Dundee’s growing tech scene (Picture: Abertay University / Supplied)

Dundee and Tayside’s growing creative technology sector is set for a major boost, with up to £20 million of UK Government funding announced to support innovation, create jobs and strengthen the regional economy.

The investment will target industries such as video games, design and virtual reality, building on Dundee’s long-standing reputation as a global hub for creative tech.

The funding comes from the UK Government’s £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, with the Tay Cities Region selected as one of the successful areas. Covering Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth and Kinross, the region has developed a strong reputation for combining creative industries with cutting-edge research and development.

Dundee remains at the heart of that growth. The city’s creative and digital industries generated £353 million in turnover in 2022, underlining its importance within the wider regional economy. The new funding is expected to help move ideas from early-stage concepts into real-world products, while also attracting investment, supporting collaboration, and opening up access to new markets.

The investment will support a wide range of emerging technologies, including immersive virtual reality and digital production techniques that could reshape industries such as film, healthcare and education. It could also allow experiences such as museum tours to be recreated digitally for wider audiences, while helping businesses reduce costs through innovations like virtual production.

UK Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the funding recognises the region’s strength in creative industries and aims to build on that success. She added that the investment would help create jobs and unlock new opportunities across Dundee, Perth and beyond by bringing together local leaders, researchers and businesses.

Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill highlighted Dundee’s global reputation in video games, describing the investment as a chance to expand that expertise into new sectors including healthcare and energy. She said the funding would help the region reach its full innovation potential while supporting economic growth across Scotland.

The programme will be led by Abertay University, working alongside industry partners including 4J Studios, CodeBase and UK Games Talent and Finance. Additional support will come from organisations such as Creative Scotland, the University of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, and V&A Dundee, bringing together expertise across education, industry and the arts.

The funding forms part of a wider £86 billion UK research and development investment through to 2030. It is specifically aimed at supporting innovation partnerships between research organisations, businesses and local authorities, meaning the funding is ring-fenced for developing new technologies and industries rather than general public spending.