Scottish University Unveils a Revolutionary £9 Million Creative Studio
A new landmark in digital innovation has been set in Scotland with the opening of a cutting-edge creative studio. Abertay University, situated in the vibrant city of Dundee, has inaugurated the CoStar Realtime Lab, a £9 million facility designed to revolutionize the digital entertainment sector and stimulate economic growth through groundbreaking research and entrepreneurship.
This state-of-the-art centre receives strong backing from the University of Edinburgh and leading tech enterprises such as CodeBase, Interface, and Chroma Developments. Nestled at Water’s Edge on Dundee’s Camperdown Street, the lab aims to be a golden opportunity for creative businesses both domestically and internationally, offering advanced resources in augmented reality, motion capture, and virtual production.
Beyond bolstering the film, TV, and video game industries, the lab has ambitious plans to redefine spectator experiences at concerts, live events, and museums. The utilization of augmented and virtual reality within these spaces offers vast possibilities for enriching audience engagement.
According to Professor Gregor White, director of the CoStar Realtime Lab, this development comes at a critical time when the technologies underpinning visual and performance media are on the cusp of significant transformation. “With film, games, and live performance technological landscapes rapidly merging, there is an unprecedented chance for companies within these realms to explore new horizons and expand their market reach,” he said.
The CoStar Realtime Lab not only brings together global-caliber academic expertise with rich industry knowledge but also aims to dismantle barriers hindering Scotland’s creative sectors. Professor White emphasized the lab’s role in nurturing innovation and encouraging entrepreneurship through its collaborative spirit.
Echoing this sentiment, Professor Melissa Terras from the Edinburgh College of Art and a co-director of the lab, has highlighted Scotland’s strong creative culture in festivals, film, TV, music, heritage, and games. She noted that the lab would serve as a conduit between technological experts and creative talents, fostering the development of new products and services while ensuring inclusive access to top-tier facilities.
This initiative has drawn support and excitement from various quarters, with Scottish Secretary Ian Murray lauding the lab as a significant boost for the entertainment industry. “This exciting project opens up endless possibilities for the sector,” he remarked, congratulating the effort as a testament to Scotland’s prowess in the screen and gaming industries.
The unveiling of the CoStar Realtime Lab aligns with broader collaborative undertakings, including a partnership between Scotland and the UAE to establish the first Robotarium in the Middle East. Heriot-Watt University Dubai and Expo City Dubai are at the forefront of this ambitious project, designed to drive innovation in robotics and AI.
The UAE Robotarium seeks to assemble academia, industry leaders, and government authorities to foster talent development, supported by sponsorship for PhD research positions at Heriot-Watt’s Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and AI.
By formalizing their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding, Expo City Dubai and Heriot-Watt University, represented by Najeeb Mohamed Al-Ali and Dame Heather McGregor, respectively, have committed to spearheading this transformative initiative.
As these projects take shape, they demonstrate Scotland’s and the UAE’s alignment in emphasizing technological advancement and academic excellence. They reflect both parties’ aspirations to bolster their global standing in innovation and advanced technology.
