MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub

>>>> Note: This change request (#3) does not change the Public Description. OVERVIEW

This project establishes a people-centred immersive technologies innovation hub in MediaCity, strengthening GM's Digital & Creative economy, supporting GM's frontier sectors, and seizing opportunities in the metaverse. Underpinned by continuous investment in people via the Salford Innovation Triangle partnership, Salford City Council, HOST, University of Salford, Peel L&P, Landsec, dock10, and other private sector partners are working in partnership to create a multi-agency innovation ecosystem for immersive technologies (part of the AI, Data and Advanced Computing family of technologies).

Its focus on R&D and innovation around immersive technologies and their wider applications within entertainment, gaming, esports, arts and culture, retail, education, health, built environment, industrial processes and manufacturing will support businesses to design, develop and test - in an unparalleled environment - new solutions for the emerging metaverse, to drive productivity and economic growth, underpinned by a commitment to social good.

THE PROGRAMME

The programme will build on MediaCity's successes of the last decade as a national centre for digital and creative industries. Its principal objectives are to:

\*Rejuvenate and level-up the innovation ecosystem that has suffered during the pandemic, and reenergise MediaCity's role within the Salford Innovation Triangle, and Greater Manchester's wider innovation ecosystem. *Encourage a stronger sense of community, co-creation and collaboration amongst the business community.

*Exploit MediaCity's assets as a living lab to deliver additional research, development and innovation activity through programmes of R&D, innovation labs and community events which will be focused on live industry requirements and opportunities.

*Deliver tangible impact on R&D outputs, productivity, skills and jobs by using the best collection of business and academic minds to address the technology barriers and seize market opportunities. OUTCOMES The programme aims to:

*Enhance the capacity of MediaCity's research-led innovation ecosystem and portfolio, building on its existing assets to connect cutting-edge technologies with industry -- "applied innovation" -- enhancing and growing the existing cluster of innovative businesses, universities and entrepreneurs, leveraging investment from the founding partners, and attracting private R&D and innovation spend, exceeding Innovation Accelerator contributions,

*Establish a public facing environment, which positively impacts the lives and productivity of communities in all parts of GM, through a programme of outreach and targeted research projects, delivering social value and addressing health and employment inequalities in Salford, GM, and across the UK.