Welcome to July's Mindset-XR Innovator Support Programme newsletter. Read on to find out the latest from the world of immersive technology for mental health, including:
- The launch of a new report on stimulating investment in immersive technologies
- A spotlight on simulation company XR Therapeutics
- News, events and funding opportunities
If you've got something to share with our 4,000-strong community, get in touch with the team.
|
|
|
Image: Mindset project investment We Are Anagram showing their immersive training tool for staff and clinicians, helping to represent the experience of mental health conditions of service users
The global need for transformative solutions in mental health is enormous, and cannot be met without significant private and public investment. To achieve this investment in the immersive technology sector requires building confidence that investments will deliver sustainable and reliable returns.
Launching our new report 'Stimulating investment in extended reality for mental health', the HIN's Director of Digital and Transformation Dr Amanda Begley reflects on what needs to be done to support investors and turn the growing enthusiasm for immersive technology into partnerships which drive real results.
|
|
We regularly feature updates from innovators being supported by the Mindset-XR programme. If you're part of the Mindset programme and you'd like to share your thoughts, get in touch with the team.
XR Therapeutics (XRT) is looking to forever change the way the mental healthcare industry approaches mental health conditions. Utilising custom-built digital environments, XRT empowers therapists to engage directly with patients within the scenarios that can trigger them, fostering targeted intervention and personalised care like never before. The software is set up to address any anxiety, anywhere on any device.
The results? The therapeutic simulations have been proven to be 94% effective in showing patient improvements that lead to lasting positive changes. In fact 71% of patients showed reliable recovery. XRT has been particularly powerful where standard methods, such as CBT and talking therapy have previously failed.
We believe everyone deserves access to effective anxiety treatment, regardless of their background or circumstances. That's why XRT is designed to be affordable and accessible, making transformative therapy available to all.
"I felt really encouraged and actually very excited by all the conversations that were being had around the room at the recent Mindset roadshow we attended. Mindset has come at a perfect time, the UK is in desperate need of a solution to the mental health crisis we are currently experiencing, particularly in children and young people services where there are over a quarter of a million children still waiting for support after being referred in 2022/23. It's amazing to see not only a desire from innovators to be working in the mental health space but also the clear drive from healthcare services to implement this kind of technology."
Penny Day, COO
"I believe that isolation is one of the biggest barriers to innovation. So programs like Mindset are fantastic for bringing passionate people together to bring about the changes that are so desperately needed. I think all of us at some point have heard a jaw dropping stat about mental health in the UK. Without radical change these statistics will only worsen. Not one company can change this alone. Being able to learn from other innovators is invaluable to us as we move forward as a company."
Andy Hobson, Marketing Manager
Watch out for more on XRT's journey from concept to NHS commission in future Mindset-XR communications.
|
|
Image: Mindset project investment Play Well for Life, who use AR and AI-driven analytics to personalise wellbeing content in a social board game, sharing their thoughts at our London event
Thank you to everyone who has joined us at one of our recent road show events in Leeds, Glasgow, London and Cardiff.
The final road show in the current series is a hybrid event this coming Friday:
Immersive Technology in Mental Health South West road show, hybrid event
Friday 19 July, 11am - 3pm
Health Innovation South West
Pynes Hill, Exeter, EX2 5FD
Find out more about the latest Mindset funding opportunity and get your free tickets here.
We have loved meeting people across the country who have 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 have brought to life the potential benefits that emerging extended reality technologies offer to the millions of people impacted by mental illness in the UK.
There will be a full review of the road shows in our August newsletter.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards 2024
On 21 May the winners of this year's Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards were announced at a special ceremony in London.
The applicants went through a rigorous three-stage judging process with 34 judges from across industry, academia, and the public sector.
You can see the list of winners here.
Call for Co-Chairs for new Working Groups
The Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network has been working with industry and academia to scope out the direction of travel for four new working groups: on (1) Ethics, (2) Sustainability, (3) Accessibility, and (4) Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in XR.
They are now looking for two co-chairs for each group to help identify what to address first in the formation of these four working groups.
Find out more about the working groups and what is involved.
NHS England MedTech Consultation
There is still time to submit your responses to the NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently published proposals for an integrated, rules-based medical technology pathway (medtech).
They are keen to hear from as wide a range of people as possible, including industry stakeholders, making this a great opportunity for anyone involved in XR technologies to raise awareness of the potential scope of XR in healthcare.
Responses can only be submitted via the online feedback form on the NHS England engagement portal before midnight on Thursday 15 August.
|
|
Mindset Extended Reality (XR) for Mental Health (opens 28 October 2024)
Discover the top-line scope relating to the third and final round of £3.7M funding from the Mindset Programme at the final Mindset XR roadshow event ‘Immersive Technology in Mental Health’ on 19 July, in Exeter.
This event is hybrid so can be attended online, please see details in the Events section of this newsletter. More information will be shared in the August newsletter, but should you be interested in applying and have questions please contact jane.guest@iuk.ukri.org.
XR Hack: Opportunity for XR Devs and Studios to win a prize pool of $100,000
The Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network will be running a UK XR hackathon in London in partnership with PwC on August 14 -16. The event is taking place at the PwC offices near Trafalgar Square and will be the biggest ever UK XR Hackathon, with capacity for 100+ hackers and £10K local prize money to be won.
Winning UK Hack projects have a chance to win $100K+ from the global prize pool and will be judged against the winning projects from other countries.
Find out more and apply here.
SBRI Competition 25 - Women's health
SBRI Healthcare has announced its latest innovation competition, focused on women's health and specifically including mental health.
Successful early stage innovations will be eligible for Phase 1 contracts of up to £100,000 for initial feasibility testing, with up to £800,000 available for projects which progress to Phase 2. Applications close on August 28.
Find out more and apply here.
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.
|
|
Innovate UK BridgeAI guide: A beginner’s guide to AI for business transformation
For anyone curious to find out more about how AI can help their business, the recently launched Innovate UK BridgeAI guide has been designed to help you navigate the complexities of AI adoption.
This guide includes:
- Insights into AI terminologies and sector opportunities from industry leaders
- Practical implementation strategies for early-stage adopters
- Guidance to ensure responsible and ethical AI use
Access the guide here to find out more.
The Turing Way handbook
This open-source community-led project aims to promote reproducible, ethical, and inclusive data science. and support a diverse community of contributors to make data science accessible, comprehensible, and effective for everyone.
All stakeholders, including researchers, software engineers, project leaders, and funding teams, are encouraged to use The Turing Way to understand their roles and responsibilities of reproducibility in data science.
What will you gain if you join?
- Access to expertise from 400+ diverse contributors from international organisations.
- Learn systematic approaches for building a shared understanding of open science, reproducibility, accessibility, and research ethics.
- Join a forum for cross-sector engagement, knowledge exchange, and strategic collaboration.
The handbook seeks to embed best practices into organisations across the broader data science and AI ecosystem by integrating open, reproducible, and ethical research practices.
Find out more and access the Turing Way handbook here.
|
|
|
How is AI driving the creation and adoption of immersive technologies?
Online, 22 July, 2-3pm
Asha Easton from the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network will be speaking at TechUK's AI and Immersive Tech webinar. Join the call to hear more about how AI is helping to shape the future of extended, augmented and virtual reality.
Find out more and register to attend here.
Health Excellence Through Technology (HETT) Show
London, 24-25 September
Join us at one of health technology's biggest events of the year. The Mindset-XR team will be speaking about the real world impact of XR technologies on the afternoon of September 24, followed by Innovate UK's Chris Sawyer joining a panel to discuss the "evolution or revolution" in digital health and care.
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.
|
|
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 August.
|
|
|
|
