University Joins £20 Million Tay Partnership

The University of St Andrews has joined a £20 million partnership to contribute to Scotland's growing creative technology sector. The initiative is expected to bring 80 jobs to the Tay Cities region, which includes Angus, Dundee City, Fife, Perth, and Kinross.

The Tay Create Innovation Partnership, launched on 29 October, will bring universities, businesses, and cultural organisations together across the Tay Cities Region. The programme is funded through UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund.

The partnership includes the Universities of St Andrews, Dundee, and Abertay, along with V&A Dundee, Creative Scotland, Techscaler, and several technology companies, including 4J Studios and Chroma Developments. Scottish entrepreneur Chris van der Kuyl, known for co-founding 4J Studios and responsible for developing Minecraft for game consoles, is also backing the initiative through his business interests.

Dr Ozgur Akgun, from the University of St Andrews' School of Computer Science and the University's lead for the project, told The Saint that St Andrews would contribute its expertise in computer science and artificial intelligence (AI).

"We are partnering with Abertay, Dundee, V&A, and a few other partners, as well as the School of Computer Science here mainly, to work on these projects," he said.

St Andrews is one of the partnership's delivery partners and will have an equal role in deciding how the funding is allocated. However, Akgun said that a detailed breakdown of how the money would be distributed has not yet been finalised.

A central part of the programme will be a series of innovation 'sandpits,' designed to bring together academics, businesses, and public organisations to develop ideas and identify potential projects.

These sessions will allow companies and public bodies to bring challenges that could benefit from the region's expertise in design and creative technology. Funding opportunities will then be made available through competitive processes for academics, businesses, and other organisations.

Akgun said the partnership will build on the Tay Cities Region's existing strengths in computer games and design, while applying that expertise to challenges beyond the creative industries.

He suggested that gaming technology could, for example, be used to develop visualisations and data models to demonstrate the effects of climate change.

"The idea is to bring that expertise to solve other societal challenges," he said.

He added that the programme was not restricted to a particular set of challenges, provided projects could make use of the region's design and creative technology expertise.

St Andrews initially became involved through its existing connections with other organisations in the Tay Cities Region. According to Akgun, the partnership's application specifically required computer science and AI expertise, which the University could provide.

Akgun said opportunities for students, including potential internships and research placements, will be advertised as the project develops. A proposed 'new talent' programme will also be aimed at graduating students and early-career innovators and entrepreneurs. 

Akgun said that giving students access to the partnership was something involved universities were keen to pursue.

Akgun also indicated that the University's existing AI expertise could contribute to the partnership, including that of academics in the School of Computer Science.

The partnership's longer-term success will be measured by its contribution to economic growth across the Tay Cities Region. Akgun stated the aim was to create opportunities across several industries by connecting creative and technical expertise with wider economic challenges.

For St Andrews, the project offers an opportunity to apply university research beyond academia, while working alongside businesses and other institutions across the region.

The partnership will operate from new purpose-built facilities at Camperdown Dock in Dundee, with activities intended to support businesses and researchers in developing ideas into commercial products and services.