New research centre for game development confirmed
José Font, director of Malmö University's Game Lab, will lead the new research centre's work on research and innovation intelligence.
Building a bridge between the Swedish gaming industry and academic research is the main goal of the Game Development Research Centre. This five-year project brings together four Swedish universities and key players in the Swedish gaming industry.
In a groundbreaking project to strengthen Sweden's position in the global gaming industry, Malmö University, the University of Skövde, Blekinge Institute of Technology and Karlstad University will establish the Game Development Research Centre (GDRC).
Malmö is a significant European hub for game development, with a diverse and growing landscape of game studios ...
José Font
Malmö University's Game Lab will lead the GDRC's work on research and innovation intelligence, with the aim of deepening understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of game development research. The work, carried out in close collaboration with industry partners and international game development research centres, will build a strong common foundation for the development of the centre's research areas and doctoral courses.
The KK Foundation is the main financier of the initiative, investing over SEK 29 million in the project.
“Malmö is a significant European hub for game development, with a diverse and growing landscape of game studios, educational institutions, events, and a thriving ecosystem of communities. Malmö University plays a strategic, research-leading role in this dynamic environment. Thanks to the KK Foundation, we can now work together to strengthen the competitiveness of the Swedish game industry,” says José Font, director of Malmö University's Game Lab.
The Swedish gaming industry is dominated by micro-enterprises, with 90 per cent of gaming companies having fewer than ten employees. Despite their size, these small game studios can achieve great commercial success. GDRC aims to give successful micro-enterprises the opportunity to conduct long-term research and gain access to the very latest knowledge.
“Through GDRC, researchers and companies can collaborate from the very beginning of the research process. This makes it possible to identify research questions and produce results that are directly useful to companies and of great scientific value,” says Per Backlund, professor at the University of Skövde, where the research centre will be based.
Although the KK Foundation has extensive experience of financing collaborative projects between academia and industry, the GDRC initiative is unique in its kind.
“With this investment, we want to enable the development of new collaboration models that meet the unique conditions of the gaming industry. The investment lays the foundation for long-term collaborations that are crucial for Sweden to maintain and develop its strong position in game development,” says Eva Schelin, CEO of the KK Foundation.
