Abertay-led InGAME is running a new open innovation competition for Scottish small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) working in the games and immersive sector. The competition will fund the winning SME to join the Inclusive Design Accelerator, where it will develop and implement inclusive design practices that widen its audience by making experiences more accessible and enjoyable for people living with disabilities.
The Inclusive Design for Immersive Experiences competition aims to accelerate the adoption and evolution of inclusive innovation and design within games and other immersive experiences. It is a co-production between InGAME, StoryFutures Academy and leading inclusive design and innovation agency, Open Inclusion. Applications close on 14 March 2022.
Up to five Scottish SMEs will be selected – and funded – to participate in a four-day Inclusive Innovation Lab. This will rapidly upskill them in the practice of inclusive design and innovation. After pitching, one Scottish SME will be chosen as the winner and will receive £35,000 to enter the Inclusive Design Accelerator. This eight-week programme will support the company to embed inclusive design and innovation practices within existing and/or near-market IP. The winner will also receive mentorship support from Open Inclusion with on-demand R&D expertise from the world-class team at InGAME.
In the UK alone, over 1 in 5 people have a disability. The ‘purple pound’ – the spending power of disabled people – is estimated to be worth over £274 billion but businesses lose approximately £2 billion a month by overlooking the needs of disabled people. The Inclusive Design for Immersive Experiences Challenge aims to change this for immersive content creators.
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