Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub
What are we?
We are a new hub for innovation in immersive technologies based at MediaCity; a unique environment with the biggest concentration of creative, media, and tech businesses outside London. We are situated in a globally recognised innovation community, home to BBC, ITV, Dock 10, the University of Salford, and Europe’s largest purpose-built digital hub. [Ref. Creative and Media (investinmanchester.com)]
Immersive technologies are transforming the UKs creative industries, the country’s fastest growing sector. Our aim is to develop and guide the innovation community, to empower businesses in their pursuit of world-leading products and services.
Our primary areas are:
- Virtual and Augmented Reality Experiences to future-proof businesses and develop new audiences
- Virtual Production techniques and processes to expand the creative potential of Film, VFX and TV
- Innovation in Gaming and Interactive technologies, shaping a range of sectors such as Esports
What do we do?
We support GM businesses through three strands of activity:
Collaboration
Working with our industrial, brand, and research partners, we bring people together to explore emergent tech frontiers, fostering a community of collaboration and invention.
Innovation
We provide research support and host regular events and targeted Innovation labs, exploring key themes for local innovators through jam, play, make and break together, assisting their journey to bringing ideas to market.
Investment
We are investing in a number of key projects led by Greater Manchester businesses developing innovative tools, products, platforms, processes or pipelines using immersive or realtime technologies. As part of this we aim to encourage collaboration, partnership and private sector co-investment.
About Us
This project is funded by the Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator programme.
Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerators programme is investing £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. Supporting the Government’s levelling-up agenda, this is a new model of R&D decision making that empowers local leaders to harness innovation in support of regional economic growth and help attract private R&D investment and develop future technologies.
Want to get involved or need support?
If you are working for or with a business in Greater Manchester within our innovation themes, want to get involved or are seeking support, then please get in touch and join our community.