Five Eyes
Innovation
Innovation is the lifeblood of the digital sector and is a fundamental requirement for successful engagement in fast moving global markets. Rapid innovation is transforming the potential for the sector, with speed to market and implementation key to success. Innovation in digital media is driven by technology development, by changes in markets and by increasingly demanding, sophisticated and digitally aware consumers.
Interactive Distribution PlatformsIn an age of spectrum scarcity, media was mainly controlled by large broadcasters and publishers with strong market power, and Scotland has long lagged behind its competitors in terms of access to distribution. Now, the freeing up of the digital spectrum and the rapid growth of the global internet are fragmenting distribution, creating opportunities for the development of new channels and platforms that provide users with the opportunity to interact with each other and with media content in new and innovative ways. These channels are not constrained by national boundaries, and the global success of platforms such as Facebook in social networking and iTunes in digital content distribution are clear examples of this in practice.
InternationalisationDigital media is a fast growing, global industry, with massive potential for further expansion in established and emerging international markets. Many parts of the sector have to be 'born global' and engage internationally from the outset. As well as being linked to external markets, Scotland also needs to be attractive to investment from global companies if the sector is to sustain long term growth.
InvestmentAchieving scale and long term growth requires good ideas, strong management and smart investment. Financial incentives have been used to good effect elsewhere, most notably in Canada through very competitive tax breaks for games development. Work by the UK trade body for games development, TIGA, estimated that extending the tax benefits currently available for film production in the UK to games development could create 1,400 new jobs in the sector and increase investment by games studios by £146m. Given that Scotland punches above its weight in games, measures such as this could disproportionately benefit studios in Scotland.
InfrastructureIn order to grow it is essential to develop innovative, internationally ambitious and investable businesses. However, this is necessary but not sufficient. For Scotland to flourish as a world class centre for digital media there must be a strongly integrated and supportive business environment to nurture talent and support the growth of smart companies.
Wee World are web based social avatar company and one of over 200 digital media companies in Scotland
We want more companies to start-up, and become successful and we need them to grow in scale and capacity.
Have your say on the strategy here ...
38 minutes
Creative Boom
The Drum
Games Industry
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