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Bristol and Bath’s MyWorld initiative launches £2million funding opportunity for businesses to drive the future of creative technologies

In the University of Bath's motion capture studio, technician Dr Pooya Soltani adjust's the performer's motion capture suit. This is covered in markers to enable cameras to track the performer's movements. Nic Delves-Broughton

University of Bristol researchers discussing how to use a RED EPIC camera to shoot high dynamic range video content, based in the Cathedral Square studio. Alice Berkeley

Press release issued: 8 April 2022

Businesses from across the West of England are invited to pitch innovative projects for a share of £2million funding, which will advance technologies and improve audience experience in the creative sector.

The call is the first open funding opportunity offered by MyWorld, a visionary initiative led by the University of Bristol in partnership with organisations across the creative production, arts, and higher education sector set to pioneer new digital formats and technologies.

From 25 April until 1 June, businesses of all sizes are invited to apply for project funding ranging from £100k - £200k in collaboration with academics and research organisations. Supported projects must focus on screen-based and immersive technologies within the creative sector industries.

David Bull, MyWorld Director and Professor of Signal Processing at the University of Bristol, said: “The West of England excels in the creative technology sector, so I’m intrigued and excited to see what will emerge from this first public call for funding.

“MyWorld is based on a foundation of world-class research and development, combined with industry strength, in this field across Bristol, Bath, and beyond. It is fantastic to be able to open MyWorld funding up to the organisations and academics that have been building this reputation for years, and to welcome new collaborators to the region. I have every confidence it will catalyse a raft of new innovations and opportunities to supercharge future growth across our region.”

MyWorld is supported by £30m of funding from the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Strength in Places Fund, as well as industry and academic partners, connecting regional and national partners with global tech giants, including Netflix, Google, and Microsoft.

The BBC, Aardman Animations, BT, Digital Catapult, and Bristol Old Vic, along with a host of other creative companies and sector organisations, are all part of the unique cross-sector consortium. The hub is projected to generate more than 700 new jobs and boost the economy by £223m. It aims to forge dynamic collaborations between world-leading academic institutions and creative industries to develop technological innovation, creative excellence, inclusive cultures, and knowledge sharing.

In collaboration with the University of Bath, University of the West of England, and Bath Spa University, the project will provide advanced training programmes and talent development feeding into an extensive knowledge exchange network.

Katie Hudson, Senior Innovation Partner at Digital Catapult for MyWorld, said: “From virtual reality to motion capture, technologies can unlock so many exciting new experiences for audiences in the creative space. The West of England is fast emerging as a front runner in this area, boasting some of the leading CreaTech minds in the country.

“Whether you’re an industry leader or academia, MyWorld is on the hunt for some of the brightest tech and creative innovators in the region.”

To mark the launch of the Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) call MyWorld, in collaboration with Digital Catapult, will run an event at Bristol’s M Shed Museum on Tuesday, 26 April. The free event will showcase examples of the region’s creative technology and media production industries as well as past industry-academic R&D partnerships. Attendees will have an opportunity to form collaboration partnerships, learn more about the opportunities, and how to access further guidance and support.

 

Further information

About MyWorld 

Funded by the UKRI Strength in Places Fund, MyWorld is the flagship for the UK’s creative sector and is part of a UK-wide exploration into devolved research and development funding. ​Led by the University of Bristol, the £30 million programme is made up of 13 collaborators from the West of England region’s creative technologies sector and world-leading academic institutions to create a unique cross-sector consortium. ​ 

Launched in April 2021, MyWorld will run for 5 years and has a mission to catalyse the region’s creative economy, creating new jobs, driving inward investment and supporting sustainable and inclusive business growth.

To achieve this, the programme will enable the research and development of new products, processes and services that advance regional capabilities in creative digital production, network distribution and audience evaluation research. With its unique set of creative partners and research collaborators, MyWorld will also deliver ground-breaking experimental productions, invest in innovative research and production facilities, create new skills programmes and develop the region’s creative business ecosystem. Visit www.myworld-creates.com for more information.

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with a budget of over £8bn. It is composed of seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK and Research England. They operate across the whole country and work with many partners in higher education, research organisations businesses, government, and charities.

Their vision is for an outstanding research and innovation system in the UK that gives everyone the opportunity to contribute and to benefit, enriching lives locally, nationally and internationally. 

Their mission is to convene, catalyse and invest in close collaboration with others to build a thriving, inclusive research and innovation system that connects discovery to prosperity and public good.

Led by UK Research and Innovation, Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) is a competitive funding scheme that takes a place-based approach to research and innovation funding, to support significant local economic growth.

About Digital Catapult

Digital Catapult is the UK authority on advanced digital technology. Through collaboration and innovation, it accelerates industry adoption to drive growth and opportunity across the economy.

Digital Catapult brings together an expert and enterprising community of researchers, startups, scaleups and industry leaders to discover new ways to solve the big challenges limiting the UK’s future potential. Through its specialist programmes and experimental facilities, it makes sure that innovation thrives and the right solutions make it to the real world.

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