Welcome to August's Mindset-XR Innovator Support Programme newsletter. Read on to find out the latest from the world of immersive technology for mental health, including:
- Latest update on Mindset-XR funding
- Overview of our recent road show events
- News, events and other funding opportunities
If you've got something to share with our 4,000-strong community, get in touch with the team.
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Last week Innovate UK announced funding worth £3.2m for 24 projects as part of their Mindset-XR programme.
The projects focus on digital mental health therapy through the application of extended reality (XR), from early-stage viability assessment to industry-led research.
Solutions include:
- immersive hypnotherapy for patients with functional neurological disorder (FND)
- an XR application for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- a mixed reality (MR) environment for a variety of mental health conditions including bipolar disorder and psychosis
Various virtual reality (VR) solutions will support young people with depression and those who experience hearing voices, as well as those with autism spectrum disorder.
Innovations to support people in addiction recovery, with post-traumatic stress disorder, and those who self-harm are also amongst the projects funded through Mindset. You can read UKRI's announcement and discover all 24 projects here.
The Health Innovation Network South London will be supporting these projects as part of our delivery of the Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme for Innovate UK, and are really looking forward to getting to know the innovators over the coming months.
Dr Amanda Begley, Director of Digital Transformation and Technology at the Health Innovation Network South London said, "I am so excited to learn more about the newly announced projects that we will have the privilege of working with through our Mindset XR Innovation Support Programme. So many of us are impacted by poor mental health, either directly ourselves or through our loved ones.These novel technologies offer new hope to service users and staff within the health, care and education sectors."
Many congratulations to everyone involved!
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Innovators guide to Lived Experience Involvement and Engagement
Online, Tuesday 1 October, 11am - 12pm
Join our next webinar led by Mariana Bolivar from MQ Mental Health Research for an insightful session on the essential role of lived experience engagement in driving successful innovations.
Mariana will guide you through effective approaches to incorporating lived experiences, address common challenges, and provide practical strategies to ensure meaningful involvement.
Find out more and register here for this free event.
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Image: Sarah Ticho talking to delegates at our Cardiff road show
The Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme recently went out on the road, holding a series of sold out events around the country. Here, Sarah Ticho, Co-Founder of XR-Health Alliance, who chaired the event in Cardiff along with her colleague Ross O’Brien, reflects on the importance of bringing people together and how the enthusiastic reaction to the events is evidence of a seismic shift in the industry.
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Image: Shilpi Shobowale from the Health Innovation Network South London introducing a session at our London road show event
Thank you to everyone who joined us at one of our recent road show events in Belfast, Leeds, Glasgow, London, Cardiff and Exeter.
We loved meeting people across the country who wanted to find out more about the Innovate UK Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme, delivered by the Health Innovation Network South London and hope that the road shows brought to life the potential benefits that emerging extended reality technologies offer to the millions of people impacted by mental illness in the UK.
Comments from the series of sold out events were very positive, with attendees making the most of the opportunity to meet and share their ideas with other innovators - and hopefully come away feeling even more inspired after listening to our brilliant speakers.
Aileen Jackson, Head of Mental Health at the Health Innovation Network South London said, "I was privileged to attend the London Roadshow event with 100 XR companies, clinicians and health and social care delegates in attendance. The conversation and connections made were a true testament to how mental health can and is at the cutting edge of innovation."
We'd like to thank all our partners who worked with us to make the road shows so successful and those who chaired events: Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), Siobhan McGrath, Health Innovation North West Coast, Mike Kenney, Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre Scotland, Chris Wright, James Woollard, Life Sciences Hub Wales, Sarah Ticho, Ross O'Brien, Health Innovation South West and Jon Siddall.
You can now access a range of resources from the road show events, including presentations and recordings, here.
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You can find out more about the Mindset-XR Innovator Support Programme by checking our dedicated web pages.
Here you'll find information on all our partners and the latest news and blogs about the programme alongside a range of other useful resources.
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techUK's 'Web3 & Immersive technologies' campaign now live
techUK has launched a six-month campaign exploring how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of Web3 and Immersive technologies.
This is part of techUK's ongoing flagship campaign, Unleashing Innovation, which is a programme of activity that aims to empower member organisations to realise the potential of UK technology and innovation.
FInd out more and see how you can get involved.
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Applications for the third and final round of Mindset-XR funding opens on 04 November 2024. If you have any questions or wish to discuss the scope of a potential application, please contact jane.guest@iuk.ukri.org to arrange a Zoom meeting.
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Creative Enterprise Business Builder
We Are Creative have introduced the Creative Enterprise Business Builder, a grant initiative designed to support companies who work in moving image for storytelling, spanning film television, games, animation and immersive industries. With grants of up to £2,500, beneficiaries will be able to work with a consultant to build meaningful connections and create opportunities for business growth.
Find out more details and how to apply.
Mental Health Award: Accelerating scalable digital mental health interventions
Wellcome is looking for teams with relevant expertise to evaluate and further develop scalable digital interventions to advance early intervention in depression, anxiety and psychosis.
You can find out more about what is required and the funding available here.
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Innovate UK BridgeAI: a year in review
The Innovate UK BridgeAI annual report has just been published, highlighting how they have helped organisations and companies nationwide embrace the transformative power of AI.
The annual report celebrates their journey since the programme’s inception in April 2023, showcasing the rationale behind their initiatives, early successes, and how they have brought businesses of all sizes, policymakers, academics and individuals together to harness AI’s full potential.
Find out more about Innovate UK BridgeAI's annual report here.
Innovate UK BridgeAI: Discover Digital Transformation
Series three starts on 18 September
This introductory-level series will help you get to grips with AI and associated digital technologies and identify potential applications within your business to save time, reduce costs and enhance innovation.
There are five sessions available during September and October, and you can select the ones that are most useful to you or book to attend the whole programme.
Find out more here.
Digital Standards Training from the BSI
Various instructor-led dates available until July 2025
Develop the skills and capabilities to manage AI development or adoption with expert-led standards training courses delivered by the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme's strategic partner, BSI.
These free training courses are the most recognised standards for information security and risk management for SMEs within the agriculture, creative, transport, and construction sectors.
Find out more and register your interest here.
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Horizon Europe Hour
Online, 29 August, 16 September, 31 October
Horizon Europe is the world’s largest Research and Innovation (R&I) programme, providing opportunities for all types of UK organisations (including businesses and academia) to get funding for research and innovation.
Innovate UK will be hosting ‘Horizon Europe Hour’ webinars every month, providing an informal discussion and an opportunity to put your questions directly to the experts on certain topics. Everyone is welcome.
Find out more and register your interest for these free events here.
Getting Your Product Adopted in the NHS
Manchester, 4 September, 9.00am - 1.45pm
This exclusive free event brings together leading experts from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester to unravel the complexities of implementing innovations within the NHS and highlight the support available to help innovators and companies overcome these.
For more information and to sign up for the event, please click here.
Seats are limited so early booking is recommended. A LinkedIn Networking Community for this event has also been set up which attendees are encouraged to join.
Health Excellence Through Technology (HETT) Show
London, 24-25 September
Join us at one of health technology's biggest events of the year. Jill Owens from the Mindset-XR team at the Health Innovation Network South London will be speaking about the real world impact of XR technologies on the afternoon of September 24.
Joining Jill on the panel are Ross O' Brien from XR Health Alliance, Matt Hoad-Robson of Tend VR, Sarah Campbell of Play Well for Life and Hannah Brady from Squidsoup.
Later that day, Innovate UK's Chris Sawyer will be on a panel to discuss the "evolution or revolution" in digital health and care.
For anyone interested in finding out more about the next round of Mindset funding which opens on 28 October, Jane Guest from Innovate UK will be at HETT on 24 September and will be happy to talk to any innovators who may have questions about applying.
Find out more and register to attend here.
Create Growth Programme Showcase Day
London, in-person, 15 October
Join us for the Showcase Day, a national event celebrating and showcasing innovative businesses and talent in the creative industries.
As part of the Create Growth Programme launched by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Innovate UK, and designed to support the development of creative businesses with high-growth potential across England, this flagship event will bring together Founders, investors and key stakeholders to exchange ideas for driving sustainable growth in the sector.
Find out more and register your interest to apply to showcase and exhibit your project.
The BFI London Film Festival
London, in-person, 9 - 20 October
Alongside this year's London Film Festival, the LFF Expanded programme will bring together a selection of of immersive art and extended reality works from around the world.
Fourteen groundbreaking projects will be presented across multiple London venues with a focus on shining a spotlight on the intersection between healthcare and technology, and we're delighted that some of the Mindset-XR projects are taking part, including those from Anagram and Hatsumi.
We'll have more on this in our next newsletter, but in the meantime you can find out about the LFF Expanded programme here.
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We hope you have enjoyed this Newsletter. Please feel free to forward on to any contacts you have who you think will find it useful.
If you have received this Newsletter from a colleague and would like to be added to our direct mailing list, please contact us and we will make sure you receive the next issue in September.
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