Blue-chip welcome

Top names in the world's fastest-growing industry witnessed the launch of a new computer entertainment research centre at Abertay University this week.

Siemens, Ericsson, Nokia and other top manufacturers, as well as games companies Digital Bridges, nGame and Games Kitchen took part in a panel discussion at the launch of Abertay's IC-Cave (International Centre for Computer Games and Virtual Entertainment) on Monday.

The centre is Britain's first research and development unit dedicated to computer games and digital entertainment.

IC-Cave, based at Abertay's main campus in Dundee, is intended to form a natural hub in Scotland for the development of the computer games and electronic entertainment industry before expanding to become an international centre for the development of the industry. The aim is to cooperate with start-ups and established companies and to encourage them to base themselves close to IC-Cave.

Funding for phase one of IC-Cave has come from the university, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise Tayside.

Details: www.abertay.ac.uk