Immersive tech sector supported in North East with new partnership

• Creative UK and Digital Catapult North East Tees Valley announce a vital partnership for immersive technology businesses pushing innovation in the North East.

• Businesses can apply for a 16-week programme to prepare for investment with tailored mentoring and unique immersive forecasting insights.

• A new grant will be available for creative businesses wanting to advance and access virtual production technologies.

Today (10 September), Creative UK and Digital Catapult North East Tees Valley announce a new partnership for immersive technology businesses based in the North East, offering new opportunities for pioneering local startups to commercialise their solutions. The new partnership will see technology pioneers in the region receive unprecedented support, unlocking new opportunities to further nurture and advance the North East’s creative and technology talent. 

ImmexCity x Creative UK North East will prepare businesses for investment via tailored workshops and mentoring, alongside unique access to industry forecasts by Dr Aki Järvinen, Principal Technologist at Digital Catapult. The programme brings together two successful initiatives which seek to accelerate the practical application of deeptech solutions in industry, and enable participating startups to scale faster. 

The partnership also includes the development and delivery of the Virtual Production Innovation Grant Programme. This project will drive innovation in the North East’s creative industries, through access to virtual production technologies and facilities, including Digital Catapult’s Advanced Media Production studios. The project includes a comprehensive programme to support participants in the use of these technologies, providing 1-1 support for adoption, and access to specialised spaces.

Creative UK North East is delivering the Create Growth Programme in collaboration with the North East Combined Authority (NECA) through funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. ImmexCity is a programme run by Digital Catapult North East & Tees Valley based out PROTO and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Sophie Craggs, ImmexCity Programme Lead for Digital Catapult: “We’re really looking forward to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs who are passionate about growing their businesses. Our new partnership with Creative UK strengthens our commitment to empowering innovators and driving growth in the immersive tech sector. This initiative will be key to ensuring that the UK, and the North East, remain at the forefront of innovation in the creative economy, as the  creative industries could contribute £132bn to the UK economy by 2025, with the right support and investment.”

Carol Bell, Associate Regional Director, North at Creative UK: “We are delighted to be partnering with Digital Catapult on the Create Growth programme. One of our key aims with the North East Create Growth programme is to partner with Creative Industries sector specialists based in the region. Digital Catapult will bring specific knowledge and expertise which will inform businesses on emerging trends in the digital world – critical information which will help creative businesses navigate this fast-paced digital sector. Alongside Creative UK’s specialist 121 mentoring support, this collaboration will ensure that businesses have the technical knowledge to effectively scale and be attractive to investment opportunities.”

You can learn more about the initiative and apply to take part in the scale-up programme post here.