UK university receives digital games technology funding

The University of Falmouth, UK has been awarded €2.4m for a European Research Area (ERA) Chair to promote research excellence in digital games technology.

The EU-funded award constitutes the university’s largest single research project to date and will see the appointment of an internationally renowned professor and a team of researchers with specialist skills in digital games technology.

Professor Anne Carlisle, vice-chancellor and chief executive, commented: “This is a vital moment for Falmouth. The digital games market is experiencing exponential global growth and is an industry that Cornwall and Europe could take the lead on.”

Formally announced by Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, the award forms part of the EU Horizon 2020 initiative. Geoghegan-Quinn described the competition for the 11 ERA Chairs as “enormous”. Falmouth, the only UK recipient, joins selected institutions from across the EU in this, the first round of ERA Chair awards.

Carlisle added: “As a catalyst for regional development, high level research in this area has the potential to make a significant contribution to the ‘Grand Challenges’ facing society. From health and wellbeing to carbon reduction, games technology and thinking has tremendously exciting economic and societal applications. I am confident that the award will enable us to develop our digital games research capacity and build on our strengths in the arts and games design.”

The university said the award complements its commitment to digital games.