The Scottish Games Network (SGN) is today unveiling Level Up Scotland, a new National Action Plan designed to transform Scotland\u2019s games sector into a \u00a31bn economic powerhouse.<\/p>\n
A result of two years of consultation, data-crunching and cross-sectoral collaboration, the plan provides a blueprint to establish Scotland as the UK\u2019s first gaming ‘supercluster’. Among other things, it highlights the sector\u2019s productivity, with Scottish developers delivering \u00a3151,382 in gross value added per head – more than double the national average.<\/p>\n
The plan also argues that games are no longer a sub-sector of the creative industries, but the \u2018golden thread\u2019 of the digital economy, with tools, technologies and techniques forged in games having transformational potential for healthcare, manufacturing, education, data, cyber security, fintech, film and energy.<\/p>\n
Brian Baglow, director of the SGN, said: “For too long, the Scottish games industry has been our economy’s secret weapon – high performance, globally successful, but all too often missing from the strategy.<\/p>\n
“After two years of professional cat-herding and deep-dive research, we are handing over a blueprint that moves us all beyond fragmentation and invisibility.<\/p>\n
“This isn’t just a report – it\u2019s a mandate to weave games technology into the heart of Scottish innovation – by hitting \u2018start\u2019 on the UK\u2019s first games supercluster, we are securing Scotland\u2019s place as a global leader in the creative technology economy.”<\/p>\n
The plan outlines five recommendations to be implemented over a two-year pilot phase:<\/p>\n
To mark the launch, two events are being held today: a political and press briefing at CodeBase in Edinburgh this morning, and an industry and community town hall held at lunchtime at the Abertay CyberQuarter in Dundee.<\/p>\n
Clare Adamson and Michael Marra, co-conveners of the cross-party group on Scotland\u2019s Games Ecosystem, commented: “The Level Up Scotland Action Plan provides the strategic coherence that Scotland\u2019s games sector has needed.<\/p>\n
“It demonstrates the undeniable value of our games developers and provides a clear, evidence-based path for the Scottish Government to support one of our most productive and innovative industries.”<\/p>\n
The SGN is an umbrella body and primary media platform for the games ecosystem in Scotland. The Action Plan is the result of an 18-month consultation involving more than 250 companies and 15 academic institutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A new action plan requests a dedicated investment fund, educational forum and specialist enterprise service to support growth<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":278857,"featured_media":1447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[127720,50204],"coauthors":[137126],"class_list":["post-1442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-skills","category-technology","tag-featured-story"],"yoast_head":"\n