Interactive Tayside

BIG Festival, the Brazilian International (& Indie)  Game Festival, is the the first indie festival in Latin America, open to all electronic platforms, showcasing the newest and most relevant production of the international and national game scene. Each edition will showcase up to 20 games.

Audiovisual, narrative and gameplay features will be considered for the selection of the applicants.

It takes place in Sao Paulo, at the Museum of Image and Sound, MIS, on November 22nd to December 2nd, 2012, featuring:

• International Competition, selecting the best independent games (Brazilian and international);
• Workshops, and training sessions for Brazilian professionals

E Exhibition for different demographics: children, youngsters and adults. The public is free to play all games (in addition to other attractions) ·    

 For further information, visit http://www.bigfestival.com.br/

In November the Prime Minister launched a major initiative to boost the number of SMEs that export – setting the target of getting up to 100,000 SMEs to either start exporting for the first time or spread to new markets over the next four or five years.

This is a national challenge because boosting SME exports is crucial to strengthening the UK’s trade performance. We know we cannot rely on consumption fuelled by debt, or on government spending funded by debt, to drive growth. There is only one other way of driving growth and creating jobs and this is through trade and investment. We have to pay our way in the 21st century.

We want to invite you to be part of this important regional business event on the 29th March in Scotland to hear how the UK Government, The Scottish Government, HSBC and PwC, as well as other intermediaries and agencies can help businesses to expand and encourage exporting and growth.

Hosted by SDI, UKTI and supported by HSBC and PwC, you will hear first-hand from businesses who have successfully exported, continue to grow and succeed in the current market.

We look forward to seeing you on the 29th March.

Please note that there will be NO First Thurstday event in April given it’s the April holiday weekend.  But watch this space as we have a great event planned for Thursday 3 May.

For further information: Susan Cox (susan.cox@scotent.co.uk)

Scottish Enterprise’s SMART: SCOTLAND Team will host this networking event to explore how digital media companies can better access R&D Tax Credits. This sector specific session follows a series of well received generic industry events in 2011″. The event takes place from 16.00 to 17.30 on 29 March at The Hub, Pacific Quay, Glasgow.For more information visit the website.

The formal launch of UKIE’s virtual Scotland office will also see UKIE host an Access to Finance session that will give artendees a range of new, practical and innovative ideas on where money can be found as well as an opportunity to contribute to the discussion. Speakers will cover prototype funding, investment funding, AIM market, crowd funding, commissioning and tax credits. A drinks and networking reception will be held immediately after the event.  Attendence is free but tickets are strictly limited so book yours now.

Informatics Ventures will be holding its next CEO Masterclass being held at the Hillington Innovation Centre on Wednesday 7 March, 1-4pm (sandwich lunch on arrival). This interactive CEO Master Class event will be lead by Gerry Docherty and the theme will be:

‘Raising Your Company Presence: Getting The Right Message To The Right Person’

So much of your sales and marketing activity is wasted.
In the age of digital communications and social media, you can spray your message farther and wider than ever before.
It?s cheap, it maybe comforting, but much of it is useless.
Getting your message to the person who?ll buy your product or service remains the priority ? everything else is noise.
You need to focus ? but how?

Attendees are asked to bring a laptop/tablet/smartphone with them.

Places for this event are being fully sponsored by Informatics Ventures, in association with Innovation Centres Scotland at Hillington who have kindly provided the venue for the event. Spaces are limited to facilitate the interactive nature of this event. 

Note that the focus for this masterclass is CEO/MD of ambitious Scottish informatics-related technology companies, preferably those with high growth potential e.g. software companies offering a mix of product and consultancy.

Please contact Danny Helson at Informatics Ventures by email at DHelson@ed.ac.uk as soon as possible if you would like to attend, and with any questions you may have about this event.

For further information: Danny Helson (dhelson@ed.ac.uk)

Learn Business Success Strategies & Gain Expert Online Marketing Advice to Help You Compete Online

This really is a don’t miss event for anyone who is starting out in business, young companies who compete online or anyone involved in online marketing and search engine optimisation.

Dixon Jones from Majestic SEO will be giving a presentation at the Angus Centre for Enterprise in Arbroath on June 6th (morning event - time tbc).

There are a strictly limited number of tickets available and this FREE event will sell out VERY quickly.

It’s likely to attract attendees from local web design & online marketing companies as well as the young entrepreneurs passing through the centre so make sure you book your place early to avoid disappointment.

Follow us on twitter to find out as soon as tickets are available or keep an eye on the Angus Centre for Enterprise Website.

For further information: Chris Gilchrist (chris.gilchrist@hitreach.com)

Dundee College is looking forward to hosting the next Creative City Challenge meeting and small conference in their new facilities at the Gardyne Road Campus.

The conference is being held as part of Dundee College’s ‘Creative City Challenge’ project activity. The aim of Creative City Challenge is to analyse many of the challenges and barriers confronting the creative sector in the North Sea Region.  Part-funded under the European Interreg IVb programme, it is a transnational collaboration between partners from 10 European cities in 6 countries, comprising public services, academic institutions and industry.

The “Social Cities” conference will explore the potential of Social Enterprise, Social Media and Crowd Funding – three key areas for developing growth in the creative industries and communities.

Social enterprises take many and varied forms, but they share the common key characteristic of a commitment to strengthening the local community through social aims and provision of local services. Alongside this growth in social responsibility, social media offers important strategic networking and business tools that allow SMEs to compete with more established organisations on a far more equal footing and develop competitive advantages to thrive in these new environments.

Crowd funding is already a proven success in the creative industries, particular the music industry. At its simplest, it involves the funding of creative projects by a number of small donors, usually via the internet.

The conference will present innovative European approaches to how these platforms and opportunities are helping artists and entrepreneurs across many creative areas to develop and grow their businesses.

Key speakers on the day will include:

Stuart McDonald OBE. Director of Creative Frontline, a consultancy specialising in creativity, design and innovation. He is also Emeritus Professor of Creative Industries at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen and was founding director of The Lighthouse, Scotland’s National Centre for Architecture, Design and the City. www.creativefrontline.com

David Cook. Chief Executive of Wasps Artists’ Studios which creates and manages affordable workspace for artists and makers, cultural organisations and the creative industries across Scotland on a charitable basis. www.waspsstudios.org.uk

Chris Van Der Kuyl. CEO of Brightsolid, a company which operates a portfolio of innovative businesses specialising in online publishing and technologies that connect people and places through social networks and their own UK based Clouds. www.brightsolid.com

Joao Mena de Matos. CEO of The European Design Centre (EDC) is a creative research lab operating at the intersection of ICT, creativity and design. They are responsible for the launch for How to Grow – a virtual meeting point and crowd funding/sourcing platform aimed at supporting business development for creative companies across Europe. www.howtogrow.eu

The conference is part of ‘Ignite 2012’ programme where cultural organisations from across Tayside and Fife are combining to ‘ignite 2012’ with a 10-day festival in May.

http://vandaatdundee.com/your-future/news-and-events/120/

 This is a FREE event and you can register through our Eventbrite page at:

http://social-cities.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information on the event please send an email to: CDIProjects@dundeecollege.ac.uk. Or visit www.creative-city-challenge.net and follow the ‘CCC Events’ link.

For further information: Andy MacKenzie (andy.mackenzie@dundeecollege.ac.uk)

Finalists Announced  
The judges have made their decisions and the finalists have been chosen for the TIGA games contest.   Here are the details for then finalists in each category:  

Games On The Move- Supported by Antix Labs
Fangs Out by Guerilla
Tea Tombstones by Gemixin
Horizon by Atavistic Games  

Social Web Gaming- Supported by Turbulenz
Run Forever byFluid Pixel
Burrow by Remode
Squaddies by PLA
Studios Nomsters by Onteca
The Dead Walk by Radiant Silver
Super Coin Mania by Strawdog Studios  

Games In The Home- Supported by Antix Labs
Clockwork Racers by Opposable Games
Hidden World by Toytek
The Zone by Chromotivity   

The final pitching panel session is open to the public and free to attend so come along on the morning of March 15, from 8.30am – 12.45pm at 8 Northumberland Avenue, London.  

Twelve innovative games developers will be pitching to a panel of judges, including TIGA board members. This will be a great opportunity to meet some of the newest games industry talent, along with some familiar faces.  

8:30am – registration and refreshments
9:00am Welcome and intro
9:10am – Intro to pitch 1
9:15am “- The Pitch” session 1 start
10:00am – Intro to Pitch 2
10:05am – “The Pitch” session 2 start
11:20am – 11:30am Coffee break
11:30am – Intro to Pitch 3
11:35am – “The Pitch” session 3 start
12:20pm – 12:30am – Coffee break
12:30pm – Awards
12:45pm – event close  

Register your place here: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/tiga-games-contest/overview

For further information: TIGA (https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/tiga-games-contest/overview )

The Scottish Technology Showcase 2012 offers an ideal opportunity for you to find solutions to your business challenges. This free event provides a platform for technology to enable your business to become more productive and more competitive, whatever your industry.

• Networking
  Join 1500 UK and international professional and technology leaders to network and share ideas.
• Exhibition
  With over 120 exhibitors, explore the cutting edge technology capability of Scottish companies and find ways to solve your business challenges through collaboration.
• Inspiring speakers
  Hear about exciting new developments in technology and how these can impact on your business in our Keynote Arena and Workshop Zone
• Matchmaking
  Profile your products and expertise online to pre-arrange face-to-face meetings on the day.
• Funding and support advice
  Access expertise and assistance from business support advisors in our Funding and Support Zone

Find out what’s on at this free, one-day event and join us from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the SECC in Glasgow

Take the opportunity to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of your business - register today

For further information: Karen Wilson (karen.wilson@scotent.co.uk)