THE UK IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN THE IMMERSIVE TECH SECTOR. BUT HOW CAN THE ISCF AUDIENCE OF THE FUTURE CHALLENGE SUPPORT OUR INDUSTRY TO GROW AND THRIVE?

By Sol Rogers, Chair of the Immerse UK Advisory Board and founder/CEO of REWIND

The immersive industry is a global one, but the UK sets itself apart through the breadth and depth of creativity. In Britain, we’ve got the best skillset for creating content in this new immersive space. All VR and AR companies have evolved from other creative skillsets, whether that’s film, visual effects, technology or gaming, and due to our heritage in these areas, we have a deep talent pool to draw on. This talent has allowed us to progress swiftly. We’re about 6-9 months ahead of the US and maybe even more ahead of the EU.

PwC predicts that by 2021 there will be 16 million VR headsets in use in the UK. With that level of growth, we need to make sure the content is available to keep people interested and that the technology progresses. The £33m challenge fund for Audience of the Future is a strong statement to the rest of the world and shows the willingness of our government to support the growth of the UK immersive sector. It makes us the envy of our peers around the world in other countries!!

So, now, we need to embrace this opportunity so we can continue to flourish and keep ahead of the curve. Whether you’re a content creator, a researcher, creative, investor, IP holder, brand, or member of the public, you all have a part to play in making the most of this opportunity.

Find out more about the £33m Audience of the Future Challenge Fund