After the rousing successes of 2023 and 2024, the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards are returning for 2025!
We have also added a new category for over-18s not studying at undergrad/postgrad level who do not yet have a job in XR, the Career Breakout Showcase.
Entries closed on Sunday 24 March 2024. Click here to find out the winners!
Follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn to keep up to date about upcoming competitions and this year’s awards.
Awards competition for UK degree students (undergrad to postgrad, 18+)
These one-of-a-kind awards aim to help connect students to the XR industry. The idea is to discover where the best XR talent is coming from in the UK, and to bridge the pathway from academic learning to real world problem solving through internship opportunities at leading companies innovating with immersive tech. Last year’s inaugural awards saw 10 worthy finalists showcasing their projects at ARUP’s headquarters in London and two internship grand prizes awarded with ARUP and Soluis.
Supported by Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network’s Advisory Board and Academic Working Group, this is an incredible opportunity for UK students building innovative projects, experiences and ideas for the XR industry. Degree students will be able to submit their work to a judging panel of industry experts for a chance to win a number of prizes, including paid internships with our industry partners; for 2024 these will be Arup, Soluis, StoryLab Anglia Ruskin University, ARCADE, and Wales Millennium Centre. All entrants must be over 18 and registered on a UK degree programme.
About the Awards
Watch the recording of our 26 February online launch event to hear about the 2024 awards competition details, including categories and prizes: learn about the four internship grand prizes, meet the partners and the 2023 winners, and get the answers from a Q&A session.
The selected top 2 finalists from each of the 5 categories will pitch their work to judges at a virtual Pitch Day and will have private virtual interviews with the grand prize internship companies in the run-up to the awards reception.
All ten Finalists will then be invited to showcase their work at the Immersive Tech Network Awards Reception in May 2024, where the category winners and grand prize internship winners will be announced.
Awards Categories
5 categories for individual and team entries undergraduate to postgraduate:
- Best Immersive Game
- Creative XR Storytelling
- Sensory
- Technical Innovation
- UX & UI Design
Submissions will be judged on their creativity (including originality and aesthetics), execution, functionality and potential (including innovative approach). Click here to find out more about each category.
Prizes
The 2024 finalist prizes are:
- An opportunity to interview with all internship partners for the paid internship placements
- An invitation to showcase their work & network with industry leaders in London at the Awards Reception in May 2024
The 5 category winner prizes will include (in addition to finalist prizes):
- 1 year of individually curated mentorship based on career goals
The 4 grand prizes will include (in addition to finalist & category prizes):
- a paid internship offer from our partners: the internships will be with Arup, Soluis, StoryLab Anglia Ruskin University & ARCADE (joint internship), and Wales Millennium Centre & ARCADE (joint internship)
Read more about the internships on offer for the winners.
Find out more about the 2023 Awards and read about last year’s winners.
FAQs
Click here for answers to frequently asked questions.
