Six pioneering start-ups have been awarded a share of £1million as part of the Collaborative Research and Development call.
The start-ups from across the West of England will be the first to benefit from MyWorld funding, as part of the Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) Open Call, delivered in collaboration with Digital Catapult.
Following a rigorous Innovate UK –led selection process, the successful bidders are: drone show performance innovators Celestial Labs, sensory pioneers Zero Point Motion, immersive art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast, virtual event virtuosos Condense Reality, soft robot studio Air Giants, and metaverse ground breakers Awarri.
The projects spanning across the creative industries from screen-based media to immersive technologies and robotics will work with West of England regional universities to address important current challenges faced by the creative sector.
Below is a brief overview of each of the successful projects.
Cloud Compression for Live Volumetric Video
Condense Reality, developer of the world’s first-ever Metaverse live-streaming studio, will work in collaboration with the University of Bristol to bring live events into the Metaverse, allowing music industry clients to stream live performances into any virtual space. The live 3D content can be experienced via gaming consoles and mobile phone games, as well as in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).
Celestial Live
Drone performance innovators Celestial Labs has collaborated with Bath Spa University. The funding will allow Celestial Labs to develop outstanding new drone light shows by responding to performers in real-time, expressing their music and dance through an immersive fusion of colour and movement.
Digibeat: Immersive Feedback Using Inertial Sensors
Zero Point Motion is the brainchild of award-winning physicist and inventor Dr Ying Lia Li. This sensory revolution will work with the University of the West of England (UWE) to revolutionise the world of sensors. The funding will allow Zero Point Motion to undertake a first-of-its-kind study that could generate new methods for the creative industry to measure immersion or reactions to visual stimulus.
STREAM
A collaboration between Marshmallow Laser Feast, All Seeing Eye and the University of the West of England (UWE) will produce tools to support the delivery of immersive location-based experiences presenting enhanced opportunities for the entertainment, visitor experience, and arts and culture sectors.
Giant Tactile Robots
Creators of giant robotic soft creatures Air Giants will work with the Bristol Interaction Group at the University of Bristol to explore new territory with large-scale haptic interaction between robots and people. The work will advance the gaming and leisure industries creating innovative sensory environments, for example, supporting children with special needs.
MetaversEngine
Awarri, founded by Silas Adekunle will work with the University of the West of England’s Verity Mcintosh to ensure that users’ rights as well as an open, creator and user-driven framework are central to the Metaverse, a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection.
Read more on the projects awarded funding and how they plan to make an impact in the region on the CR&D awarded projects webpage.
