New year, new column, new hope!
Coming off the back of 135 columns written for the Evening Telegraph, I am thrilled to continue my column in this new format.
It has been a fantastic journey, writing the column for two years, and I am very indebted to DC Thomson for taking a chance on me and having faith and trusting me when writing for the Tele.
All things do change and after 135 weeks of experience, I look forward to using that to build the column even further.
I’ll always cherish the opportunities the columns in the Tele gave me and the connection they built with the readers.
But now, it has arrived at its new home on Dundee Culture’s website!
Dundee is fast emerging to be Scotland’s tech capital
I want to start off by saying that Dundee had an extraordinary 2024.
From groundbreaking technological advancements and medical innovations to vibrant cultural festivals and remarkable sporting achievements, the city showed what it’s capable of.
Now, with 2025 upon us, I believe Dundee has a solid foundation to build upon and even greater potential to unlock.
We have projects in Dundee that are proceeding apace such as LIVEHOUSE Dundee, the Dundee and Angus / Wellgate redevelopment, and the Blackscroft neighbourhood regeneration, including the restoration of the iconic Reading Rooms in the pipeline.
This year also sees the next phase of HMS Unicorn’s Project Safe Haven commence, which will see the historic 200 year old ship moved to dry dock with a new visitor centre built in the years ahead.
And, naturally, work has commenced on site at Eden Project, the much anticipated attraction now in the planning to be opened to visitors by the 2030s.
This has already been a decade good transformative and accretive for Dundee so far. Just take a look:
2020: The announcement for the Eden Project Dundee heralded a new era with the potential to be a large scale attraction and economic driver.
2021: Dundee became the only UK city to be featured in Cognizant’s “Cities of the Future” list, showcasing its innovation and potential.
2022: The city experienced a £280 million surge in its tourism sector, with 1.25 million visitors. That same year, Abertay’s cyberQuarter opened, enhancing Dundee’s reputation as a tech hub.
2023: Dundee showed the way in Scotland by introducing the first degrees and Esports Studio at Dundee and Angus College.
2024: The Competitive Games Lab and the Wacom Cintiq Lab opened at Abertay University, reinforcing Dundee’s position as a video game powerhouse.
Now in 2025, Dundee is fast emerging as a contender to be Scotland's new tech capital, with new businesses and creative enterprises moving into the city.
This year can be the defining moment Dundee clinches that title, with imminent developments such as the opening of the University of Dundee Life Science Innovation District, and the launch of the CoSTAR Realtime Tech Lab in February being just two examples.
The Life Sciences Innovation District is set to be a game changer for Dundee, with new and existing biotech labs and firms setting up shop in the city, one of which is Glen Clova Scientific, who announced their move to Dundee from Glasgow last year.
Alongside this, the CoSTAR Realtime Tech Lab, which will be located at Water’s Edge at Dundee’s waterfront, is due to grow Dundee's reach into the television and film sectors, which in turn may facilitate entry into an entirely new area of opportunity.
What’s in store for Dundee Culture in 2025?
For Dundee Culture, 2025 will be all about strengthening partnerships and launching new initiatives.
The year kicks off on Dundee Day on 26 January, with this year’s theme being "The Place of New Hope", marking a decade since Dundee was catapulted onto the world stage following its appearance in GQ Magazine in 2015, and 60 years since Dundee was dubbed a "place of new hope”.
That hope is alive and growing stronger. But to truly achieve it, we need to act.
Exciting projects are in the pipeline and I am eager to tell you about them as the year progresses.
Dundee has an incredible year ahead - a year of hope, growth, and transformation. Let’s get down to business.
Cover photo: Steven Neish via X/Twitter
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