“There’s no doubt that the Edinburgh creative tech community is special, given that it sits at the juncture of a world-leading cultural city, and one with an immensely successful start-up ecosystem, and we hope that the bridges we’ve built here show others how best to encourage creatives to make new digital and data driven products and services, keeping them ahead of the international game.”
Professor Melissa Terras, Director, Creative Informatics
After an incredible five years, the Creative Informatics programme closes on Friday 28 June 2024. Since 2018, we’ve been proud to support the creative industries in Edinburgh and Southeast Scotland to do new, ground-breaking work with data.
Funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, Scottish Funding Council, the Data Driven Innovation Programme of the Edinburgh City Region Deal, and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, recent economic analysis has estimated a Gross Value Added (GVA) to the region of £78.5m associated with the Creative Informatics programme.
We would like to extend a huge thanks to the creative and cultural community in Edinburgh and South East Scotland and everyone who has engaged with our programme over the past five years. We simply could not have delivered such ground-breaking and impactful work without your support and creativity.�
You can watch an extended version of our final film and read our final report via the link in our bio 🌟
We'll see you all soon!
🎥 @stuartarmitt
An interactive exhibit at National Museum of Scotland, as part of @edscifest , has been the most incredible way to showcase the Creative Informatics programme. Thank you to everyone who has visited us and taken part.
If you visited the exhibition, we'd love to hear what you thought. Please complete a short survey through the link in our bio 📌
🎬 @stuartarmitt
We're not finished quite yet... Join us to discuss Creative AI for Creative Work on Wednesday 10 April and hear from creative professionals working with AI to enhance their projects – from developing playful innovations to creating new revenue streams for sound and audio production.
And on Friday 12 April, we invite you to extend your reality and celebrate the Scottish video game industry with an interactive night out at Summerhall. Choose from a programme of short talks from industry creatives and researchers, try out cutting-edge tech or relax with a drink at the bar and enjoy some AI-generated beats.
Design Informatics Manager Nicola Osborne @suchprettyeyes has been awarded The Impact Festival 2025 Research Impact Prize in the category of Impact Enabler.
Nicola has demonstrated exceptional leadership in managing the @creativeinformatics Research and Development Programme. Their dedication and expertise have been central to the transformative impact of this initiative on Scotland’s creative industries. Congratulations to Nicola!
✨ Rethinking Policy for the Creative Economy
Join us on 11 June for an engaging online event that invites participants to explore how innovation policy can be opened up to help creative practitioners access and benefit from this in their day-to-day work.
Creative practitioners often navigate a fragmented landscape when seeking funding, research and support. Our Open Innovation Factory will explore how to make these systems more accessible and relevant to the cultural and creative sector, while also looking at how to shape a more open, inclusive approach to innovation. What skills do creative practitioners bring that could make a positive difference to policymaking, and what could policymakers be doing to make best use of the experiences of the cultural and creative industries?
This Open Innovation Factory event is presented by researchers from the University of Edinburgh as part of ekip, the European Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries Policy Platform, a Horizon Europe funded project. Ekip focuses on how open innovation ecosystems can be leveraged to support diverse and inclusive development of immersive and convergent technologies through a strong network of networks across Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) in Europe and beyond.
Register now! Link in bio ✨
🎬 The Big Real Virtual Production Film Academy
The CoSTAR Realtime Lab, in partnership with Screen Scotland, has launched The Big Real Film Academy - a cutting-edge initiative aimed at shaping Scotland's cinematic future. This immersive programme offers 20 emerging filmmakers the opportunity to collaborate on projects using advanced virtual production technologies, with access to professional studios and mentorship from industry practitioners.
The Academy is open to Scotland based graduates, current Master students or early career film makers.
The CoSTAR Realtime Lab is led by Abertay University, in collaboration with @edinburghcollegeofart , Chroma Developments, CodeBase and Interface.
Find out more and apply by 30 April - link in bio ✨
@costarnetwork
🎉 Call applications are now open for CoSTAR's Realtime Lab Virtual Production Tool Box!
The CoSTAR Realtime Lab seeks a collaborative partner to help democratise the Virtual Production process, by creating a foundational media player, that is accessible, intuitive and simple for creative content creators to use.
🤝 This exciting 4-6 month project includes a generous support package valued at over £140,000. Visit the links in our bio to read the full call brief, learn about the Realtime Lab, and apply now.
Closing on Wednesday 14 May 2025, 14:00 GMT
#CoSTARNetwork #CoSTARRealtimeLab #CreativeIndustries #Innovation #Immersive #RandD #Funding #AccessProgramme #Support #VirtualProduction #Enterprise #Access #LivePerformance #ScreenIndustries
Join us for the latest ekip Open Innovation Factory and explore Inclusivity in Gaming! 🎮
With discussions and presentations from industry leaders, this workshop will look at challenges and best practices around inclusivity in gaming, and how policy and innovation can support industry-wide change.
📅 Date: 20 March
💻 Online
🎟️ Free 🔗 in bio
✨Applications are open for CoSTAR Ideate: Growth Lab and Residency✨
The CoSTAR Realtime Lab, led by @abertayuni in partnership with @edinburghcollegeofart@watersedgedd1 , @codebasetech and Interface, is inviting companies to apply with an interest in developing innovative new workflows, tools, processes, products or services that explore:
- Machine learning and AI.
- GPU performance; Cloud based and high-performance network technologies to deliver production pipeline efficiencies and improve productivity in content creation.
- New innovations that include consideration of accessibility and environmental impact for games, immersive and interactive development or Film, TV or animation production.
🗓️ Call closes Monday 24 March
Find out more on the @costarnetwork website and watch the information session now. Links in bio 💻
Don’t miss the inaugural lecture from Creative Informatics Director, Professor @melissaterras : 'Why Digital Innovation Needs Art Schools.
Join us in person @edinburghcollegeofart or online as Professor Melissa Terras argues that creativity should be at the heart of digital innovation in the UK. The creative industries - where art, business, and technology meet in economic activity - are one of the leading industrial sectors in the UK. This discussion will explore how art, artists, and art schools are essential to developing new technologies, products, and services.
📅 5.15pm Wednesday 19 March
📌Edinburgh College of Art, West Court, Lauriston Campus
🎫 Free and open to all, in person and online - book via link in bio
Melissa Terras is the Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage within @designinformatics . With over 25 years producing award-winning digital projects in the Gallery, Library, Archive, and Museum sector, Melissa’s recent activity has supported others to develop new data-led products and services.
We’re excited to celebrate the launch of the CoSTAR Realtime Lab’s first virtual production studio at Water’s Edge - a major milestone for Scotland’s screen, gaming, and performance sectors.
With a £9 million investment, this game-changing project led by Abertay University in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, CodeBase, Interface, and Chroma Developments will provide world-class production studios and expert support to creative and tech companies across the UK.
And this is just the beginning! In March 2025, we’re excited to welcome the next phase as we open in Edinburgh at First Stage Studios followed by a facility at Edinburgh College of Art in 2026.
Sign up to the @costarnetwork mailing list for funding calls, support programmes, events and opportunities!
📸 Molly Danter from @scottishdancetheatre and the CoSTAR Realtime Lab team work together to blend live performance with virtual production.
@abertayuni@edinburghuniversity@edinburghcollegeofart@ahrcpress@codebasetech@interface@watersedgedd1
Upcoming Event: Open Innovation Factory - Immersive Technologies
📆 Wednesday 30 October
⏰ 2pm-5pm followed by food for in-person attendees
📌@inspacegallery and online
🎫 Free
This event will explore how innovations in virtual production and immersive technologies are changing how we watch, play, interact and create.
We're bringing together industry experts to explore how skills, funding and support, along with extraordinary ideas and creativity, can shape the future of this industry. We’ll discuss policy and creative practice with presentations and demonstrations from those working at the forefront of new media technologies, before exploring how design methods and techniques, such as rapid prototyping and collaborative co-creation, can support the ideation process.
Tickets are free and refreshments will be provided for in person attendees.
Register now - link in bio ✨
The fantastic programme for CreativeTech Scotland Gathering 2024 is now live! Browse the line-up of inspiring keynotes, panels and demos and get ready to join in on Friday 28 June.
Register for free via link in bio ⏩ ctsg.scot #CTSG2024
@uoe_efi
