ekip’s profile of the month: Nicola Osborne

Photo: Nicola Osborne

Creative Informatics at the Edinburgh Science Festival

Nicola Osborne, University of Edinburgh, leads the delivery of Creative Informatics: Unleashing the power of data, presented as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival from 30 March to 7 April.

The exhibition showcases work undertaken as part of the ambitious Creative Informatics programme, highlighting how creativity, data, and technology intersect.

Nurturing data-driven innovation across creative industries

Creative Informatics has been nurturing data-driven innovation across the creative industries in Edinburgh and Southeast Scotland for over five and a half years. The programme connects thriving creative and tech sectors and supports creatives in exploring the creative and economic potential of data, data-driven technologies, and new business models.

The team has engaged with over 2,600 individual creatives and supported around 350 people and companies, including approximately 130 small R&D projects ranging from data-driven knitting to electronic skin for robotics.

Measurable impact on the creative economy

The programme’s impact includes:

• 47 new start-ups, spin-outs, or significant business pivots
  
• 445 new or safeguarded jobs
  
• £7.6m in additional funding and investment secured
  

The projected impact on the local economy is £53.2m GVA.

Showcasing creativity to a broad public audience

Creative Informatics is showcased at the Edinburgh Science Festival to reach a broad STEAM-interested public who may not yet be familiar with the project or participating companies. With an expected 10,000 visitors per day, families and adults can explore data-driven creativity from AI-powered music making and VR fitness games to sustainable environmental data art and glass artworks addressing cancer treatment.

Almost 20 companies are featured across the exhibition.

Extending the conversation through events and research

Two further Creative Informatics events complement the exhibition:

• Creative AI for Creative Work – a panel on AI’s impact on creative industries
  
• Let’s Play – an interactive event celebrating the Scottish video games industry
  

Both events build on Creative Informatics’ legacy and connect to broader UK and European innovation initiatives.

Looking ahead

“We are really excited to share this inspiring data-driven creative work and dynamic local companies with a broad public,” says Nicola Osborne.

She also invites ekip partners to attend the exhibition and highlights the forthcoming publication Data-Driven Innovation in the Creative Industries, sharing insights and reflections from the programme.