The REVIVE project brings together researchers, communities, and technology experts to co-create cutting-edge digital solutions for the revitalisation of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), focusing on endangered languages like Griko (Italy) and Cornish (UK).

Discover how digital storytelling, immersive technologies, and community collaboration are shaping the future of languages heritage. This free event will allow to you meet with the project team, learn about the project, try out some award-winning immersive experiences, and find out how you can get involved.

Doors are open to the public on Tuesday the 13th of May 2025, 9:30-17:30, at the Lord Ashcroft Building, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT

Themes We’ll Explore

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and Languages: Understanding the challenges and opportunities for languages, traditions, and practices.
Community Co-Creation: Placing community voices and ethical considerations at the heart of digital heritage projects.
Digital Technologies: Leveraging XR, digital archiving, storytelling platforms, and UX design for heritage revitalisation.
Impact & Sustainability: Building networks and creating lasting value for communities and heritage revitalisation.

The Immersive Tech Network’s Asha Easton will be speaking on “Networking and impact for Intangible Cultural Heritage and Immersive Tech” at 2:45pm, and speakers also include Dr Fabrizio Galeazzi, who is a judge for the Immersive Tech Network Awards and part of our Academic Working Group.

Mark your calendars for this prestigious event and join our diverse community of XR specialists and enthusiasts to witness the culmination of creativity as we unveil the work of our finalists and announce the winners for these highly sought after awards.

The Ida Network exists to promote the identities and ideas of women, non-binary and trans people, for a prosperous immersive tech sector.

Event Focus:
How do we shape the future of creative tech by redefining success?
What does authentic professional development look like in our field?
How can funders and investors better align with diverse visions of innovation?

Through guest talks and collaborative discussions, we’ll address challenges and opportunities in navigating innovation, audience experiences, and creative expression. Together, we’ll explore how to build a more inclusive and collaborative future for our industry.

Key Questions:

What is professional development for emerging creative tech practitioners?
How do we balance authenticity with career growth and investment opportunities?
What can funders and investors learn from practitioners to support diverse forms of success?

Why Attend?

Engage in meaningful conversations, gain insights, and connect with a supportive community of like-minded professionals. Whether you’re new to immersive tech or an industry expert, your voice matters. We are passionate about creating inclusive and comfortable spaces for everyone who attends.

The Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network is thrilled to announce the third edition of its ground-breaking competition. This unique award aims to help connect students and emerging talent to the XR industry by showcasing their innovative project and experiences.

Register to join the 16 January 2025 10:00-11:15am Launch Info Session online.

This exciting competition provides a platform for students and new talent to submit their ground-breaking work for the opportunity to be recognised as one of the up-and-coming stars of UK immersive tech. The initiative is brought to you in collaboration with our leading industry partners, esteemed judges and Academic Working Group.

Benefits of the Awards

  • Prizes and acknowledgment: 5 Categories, Career Breakout Showcase, 10 Finalist Prizes, 5 Category Winner Prizes and 4 Grand Prize internships.
  • Finalists are invited to showcase at May Awards Reception in London to meet with industry experts, awards partners & judges and show off their projects. This showcase is one of the must attend events for the UK XR industry.
  • Connection to industry: The awards serve as a vital link between participants and the industry, fostering connections and support, and bringing fresh ideas and talent to the forefront, acting as an important introduction for the most innovative new projects in UK XR.
  • Mentoring: Tailored for award winners in support of their project and career development goals.
  • Pathway to real-world solutions: Supported by the founders and advisory board of Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network, the awards aim to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world problem-solving, opening doors to cross-sector applications.

What to Expect

  • Awards Insights: Learn about the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards 2025, the exciting categories (5 Categories for Undergrad to Postgrad and Career Breakout Showcase for non-degree talent), and the coveted prizes awaiting the winners including meeting the internship partners
  • Next steps: How to apply and timelines
  • Success Stories Highlights: Hear from prior award winners and gain valuable insights into their experiences
  • Live Q&A session: bring your questions about the awards.

We are thrilled to have you join us at the virtual Awards launch! This event is proudly presented in partnership with Arup, Soluis, StoryLab Anglia Ruskin University and Wales Millennium Centre.

The Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network and Neurotechnology teams are collaborating to host this online webinar, with the aim of showcasing a number of innovative technologies and applications in this area.

Delegates will hear from a wide range of technology developers that are designing and applying innovations within this emerging technological intersection. The event will focus on a series of presentations followed by a panel discussion with the sector.

Do you want to grow or improve your business but aren’t sure how to get started or where to turn? Join us at Innovate Local Buckinghamshire, alongside fellow business leaders, innovators, and experts from the region, including a panel on XR technology led by Asha Easton from the Immersive Tech Network.

This Innovate Local event is a collaboration between the Innovate UK System (including Innovate UK Business Connect and Innovate UK Business Growth) and Buckinghamshire County Council’s Bucks Business First Growth Hub.

Together, we’ll explore the importance of innovation and how it can:

  • Drive business growth: learn how innovation can increase profitability, expand market share, and enhance customer loyalty.
  • Boost competitiveness: discover how staying ahead of industry trends and embracing innovation can give your business a competitive edge.
  • Foster resilience: in today’s ever-changing business landscape, innovation is a key driver of adaptability and long-term success.

Join us to unlock the potential of innovation for your business and connect with like-minded professionals committed to driving growth and success in Buckinghamshire.

Who should attend?

Businesses based in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas or businesses from within the UK who are looking to collaborate or innovate in these regions. You can be from any sector / industry – whether you’re a small start-up or an established enterprise, this event is designed to help you understand the power of innovation and its practical applications.

Why should you attend?

  • Connect with innovation experts and potential collaborators.
  • Secure personalised business growth strategy support from national and regional programmes.
  • Get updates on current and emerging Innovate UK grant funding opportunities.
  • Attend masterclasses on partnering with universities, incorporating diversity and inclusion, and understanding grant assessors’ perspectives to improve your grant applications.
  • Discover opportunities and incentives for ambitious innovators and businesses in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.
  • Network with like-minded professionals from Buckinghamshire’s thriving business community.
  • Take practical steps towards transforming your business through innovation.

As the technology enters the mainstream, immersive technology users and the wider public are becoming increasingly aware of the existing and potential future harms facilitated by VR, AR and MR. Many people are understandably anxious around this form of technology, after seeing its power and the negative impact from earlier technologies – like social media, play out.

Change is on the horizon, however. Legal requirements to tackle illegal harms online will come into force in the coming months – the Online Safety Act includes immersive technology. The communications regulator, Ofcom, has been tasked by parliament with enforcing the act.

This summit will cover what immersive businesses need to know now, as well as exploring proposals for industry-initiated solutions.

The Indian Film Festival is a national festival with events taking place around the country and BOM (Birmingham Open Media)  are proud to be hosting the Birmingham edition. They have helped to curate a selection of immersive experiences which can be experienced through VR in the evening:

Anglo Sikh Virtual Museum  – Sikh Museum Initiative and BOM

Empire Soldiers: A South Asian Story – MBD (METRO-BOULOT-DODO)

Child of Empire – Project Dastaan

Darbar’s VR360 Festival: Indian Classical Music in Virtual Reality – Darbar Academy

Tickets for the event are free and we’ll be providing complimentary drinks and nibbles. To attend, please sign up via the eventbrite link.