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Our £100,000 Challenge Fund competition is supporting Belfast’s digital and creative companies to animate the city’s Maritime Mile.
Developed as part of our Belfast HUB-IN (Hub of Innovation) project, in partnership with the Maritime Belfast Trust, the Challenge Fund aims to explore how digital innovation can help to sustain, enhance, and preserve the unique heritage along Belfast’s Maritime Mile which connects key attractions, sculptures and viewing points on both sides of the River Lagan.
Funding of up to £20,000 each for local SMEs was made available to collaborate with cultural and heritage organisations and local communities in the waterfront area to develop and trial innovative digital products and experiences.
Applications closed at 4pm, 20 November 2023.
We’re supporting people working in Belfast’s innovation and creative industries sectors to build their capacity in using emerging technologies (with a focus on immersive), so they can access funding and finance opportunities for product development and prototyping.
We’re working with Digital Catapult NI to offer two free Creative Capacity sessions, aimed at a broad range of Belfast based SMEs, from those working on sports science, tourism and cultural projects, to manufacturing and engineering.
You’ll hear inspiring stories and case studies from a mix of Global XR brand leaders and NI based creative industry start-ups. They’ll give a unique insight into the exciting world of Immersive Technology, an understanding of the tools and skills required to create compelling, successful Immersive Technology projects across a range of sectors - and how you can apply them to your business.
We’ll cover next-generation interfaces, XR workflows and give the inside track on how immersive tech giants and local businesses are already working with major companies, SMEs and creatives to put this technology into real use cases. You’ll also have the chance to try some amazing immersive experiences for yourself.
2pm to 6pm on 8 November 2023, Ormeau Baths
We’re working with Digital Catapult NI to offer two free Creative Capacity sessions, aimed at a broad range of Belfast based SMEs, from those working on sports science, tourism and cultural projects, to manufacturing and engineering.
You might be working in graphic design, illustration, advertising, animation or gaming, or with 2D or 3D design via CAD software, but haven't yet realised how implementing AR, VR or MR workflows could enhance your business.
Following the Creative Capacity sessions, Digital Catapult will provide the opportunity for a limited number of businesses who have attended to pursue one-to-one mentoring. It’s an opportunity to delve deeper into Immersive Technology and how it can make a difference to your projects or working practices through efficiencies, cost savings and marketing impact, and more.
We’ll share further details at the Creative Capacity sessions.
We’ll soon be launching a £500,000 funding competition to support local SMEs to innovate in immersive technologies and develop new visitor experiences.
The Challenge Fund will enable local innovators to develop ideas, proof of concepts and prototypes using immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality to support organisations that are designing major new visitor attractions for the city and elsewhere.
This scheme is part of our Smart Belfast programme and funded through the Belfast Region City Deal
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