The Digital Media Quarter at Pacific Quay has been launched with
an event for industry professional at the BBC Pacific Quay
Headquarters.
The launch coincides with the news that Shed MEDIA, the
television group behind TV hits such as Waterloo Road, Supernanny,
Who do You Think You Are, New Tricks and Bad Girls, is to open its
first Scottish office within the new Digital Media Quarter (DMQ) in
2009.
Shed join The Glasgow School of Art's Digital Design Studio
(DDS), which is moving to the location early next year, as a key
tenant of the quarter. Regional Selective Assistance support from
the Scottish Government of up to £100,000 is being made available
to Shed, with additional Training Plus funding amounting to around
£30,000 spread over three years.
The aim of the DMQ, developed by Scottish Enterprise, is to
provide a highly distinctive and dedicated business location for
Scotland's digital media and related industries, providing a
physical focus for these activities in the city and the site. It
extends to around five hectares, forming part of the wider Pacific
Quay area, which is home to BBC Scotland, Scottish Media Group, XFM
Scotland, Film City Glasgow and Glasgow Science Centre. The Digital
Media and Creative Industries in Scotland account for around £2.8
billion in economic terms and employs an estimated 100,000.
The vision for the DMQ was launched to around 200 industry
representatives from the digital media and broadcasting communities
at BBC Scotland's Pacific Quay HQ. The audience became the first in
Scotland to witness a high definition holographic video projection
system, which allows spectacular three-dimensional moving images to
appear within a live stage setting. The Eyeliner System is the
brainchild of London-based Musion and saw an original dragon from
the BBC's Dragon's Den, Doug Richard, interact 'Princess Leia
style' with a full-size hologram image of himself.
Commenting on the decision to open its Scottish office at DMQ,
Shed's Chief Executive, Eileen Gallagher, said: "This is a perfect
location for us. We are next door to our major customers at BBC
Scotland and as part of The Hub we are neighbours to the brightest
digital innovators in the UK. Our plan is to produce many leading
programme brands from Scotland and to develop creative digital
content around them for UK and international audiences.
We are very grateful for the support and encouragement given to
us by Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council who's support
has made our move to Scotland possible."
The Medius building, a near 2,500m2 open plan building was the
first on the site to be completed and has now been joined by the
Hub, a concept space to encourage inter-company interaction,
providing a collaborative working environment. The Digital Design
Studio, The Glasgow School of Art will relocate to the Hub in
Spring 2009. The Digital Design Studio is a world leader in
advanced visualisation and interaction research and teaching.
Research areas include the groundbreaking 3D model of the city of
Glasgow, virtual shipbuilding and the Medical Visualisation
Network
Commenting on its plans, Paul Anderson, Director of the Digital
Design Studio, The Glasgow School of Art said: "The DDS's
relocation to Pacific Quay is central to the growth of the Studio
as one of the UK's leading higher education centres for teaching,
research and knowledge exchange in advanced 3D visualisation and
interaction. Our new facilities with be some of the best in Europe,
allowing us to build on our existing international reputation and
client list, and act as a major draw for companies to locate to
Pacific Quay to be amongst some of the worlds' leading academics
and researchers in this field".
Adrian Gillespie, Director of Scottish Enterprise's Digital
Markets and Enabling Technologies team said: "The DMQ project is
aimed at bringing together digital media content developers,
broadcasters and publishers, communication technology companies,
research and development institutions and related technologies
working across the media. The vision is to create a centre of
excellence and a dynamic focus for the digital media industries in
Scotland.
"The project is taking advantage of the international trend
whereby new media communities have clustered in inner city areas
and aims to develop a high quality business environment,
specifically tailored to meet the needs of this sector with
'smart', flexible buildings with access to a broad range of
technologies."
Commenting on the economic impact that the DMQ could have for
Scotland, John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and
Sustainable Growth, who attended the launch said: "Today's launch
of the Glasgow Digital Media Quarter is a very exciting development
for everyone connected with the industry in Scotland.
"Digital media now contributes over £700 million to Scotland's
economy and has the potential to help increase sustainable economic
growth. The quarter is a world-class business location for
companies, including international firms, in one of the economy's
fastest growing sectors. Not only that, but these innovative new
facilities here in Glasgow provide a platform for Scottish digital
media companies to shine on the global stage."