Interactive Scotland event links up the digital world
Scotland’s digital gurus are gathering at The HUB in Glasgow’s Digital Media Quarter on 25 March 2010 for a first-of-its kind event to mark the launch of Interactive Scotland.
The event will give attendees a platform to discuss digital media opportunities for Scottish businesses, and hear the latest thinking from a panel of leading digital media experts from different arenas and areas of expertise.
Interactive Scotland, a new service from Scottish Enterprise, is designed to stimulate growth and innovation in Scotland’s digital media sector. Scottish digital media companies will have access to a unique support network, helping them develop new business models and innovative content, applications, products and services.
Scottish companies working in design/advertising, mobile, interactive software, internet, gaming, broadcast services, film, video production, exhibition services, next generation learning, music and publishing can benefit from the Interactive Scotland service, offering access to market intelligence and research; product and technology support; sector-specific business development; and partner connections
The new service encourages companies to work together and share ideas through building active communities and collaborative networks. Interactive Scotland will also keep companies informed of the opportunities that exist on new technology platforms, in the UK and internationally, helping them find untapped markets overseas and secure fresh sources of investment.
Key speakers include John Maxwell Hobbs, head of technology and co-manager of the Innovation Team at BBC Scotland and former Head of Creative Development for Ericsson CyberLab in New York; and Stuart Cosgrove, chairman of Scotland’s Digital Media Industry Advisory Group; Lena Wilson, CEO Scottish Enterprise; Terry Hurley, senior director of Digital Markets and Enabling Technologies at Scottish Enterprise; and Danny Meaney, managing director of New Media Partners.
John Maxwell Hobbs, head of technology and co-manager of the Innovation Team at BBC Scotland, said: “BBC Scotland has a strong reputation for innovation and we are excited about being involved in this very forward thinking event and new service.
“I welcome any initiative that supports the growth of opportunities in Scotland’s digital industries and I believe that Interactive Scotland will play a crucial role in enhancing the opportunities that exist for Scotland across the digital media industries.”
Terry Hurley, senior director of Digital Markets and Enabling Technologies at Scottish Enterprise, commented: “This event is a forum for the key players in Scotland to collectively explore and identify opportunities for growth The Scottish Digital Media Industry Advisory Group’s strategy aims to double the value of Scotland’s sector revenue to £6.3bn by 2012. Interactive Scotland provides the practical help for businesses to exploit these growth opportunities and create real economic value for Scotland.”
Created by Scottish Enterprise, the new Interactive Scotland service has been developed in response to industry demand for business growth support for the sector, and contributes to the Scottish Digital Media Industry Advisory Group’s strategy, ‘Digital Inspiration’.
Follow Interactive Scotland on Twitter @IntScotland or join Linked In group, Interactive Scotland to join the discussion. This event is open to those working in the digital media sector. Anyone interested in attending should register at www.interactivescotland.com/events.
Interactive Scotland has been developed by Scottish Enterprise to drive growth in the sector and support ‘Digital Inspiration’, the recently launched strategy for Scotland’s digital media industry (www.digitalinspiration.org.uk ). Interactive Scotland is delivered for Scottish Enterprise by Innovation Centres Scotland and New Media Partners, experts in the digital media market. More information is available at www.interactivescotland.com.
Stuart Cosgrove, Director of Nations and Regions, Channel 4 will describe the key recommendations from the recently published Digital Inspirations strategy and what this means for the digital media industry in Scotland.
Danny Meaney, Managing Director, New Media Partners will provide a glimpse into the future of the digital media sector in Scotland. He will discuss emerging trends and some of the challenges currently facing this sector and look at new commissioning models and the opportunities they will afford Scottish companies, both on a UK and global scale.
John Maxwell Hobbs, former Head of Creative Development for Ericsson CyberLab in New York and now Head of Technology and co-manager of the Innovation Team at BBC Scotland. John will share the BBC’s innovation strategy and outline what SMEs need to do to develop solutions for the BBC.
Terry Hurley (Scottish Enterprise), Colin MacDonald (Real Time Worlds), Murray Buchanan (Scottish Arts Council) and John McLeish (Equator) will take part in an industry panel discussion at the end of the event