CAMERA were delighted to be asked to run two fully funded workshops for micro and SME companies focusing on successful University-Industry R&D collaborations in Immersive Technologies. We were pleased to welcome a wide range of SMEs, ranging from the fashion industry to documentary teams and one person start-ups.

The two sold-out workshops drew on the collective experience of seasoned collaborators from industry and academia, including Marshmallowlaserfeast’s Nell Whitley and Professor Adrian Hilton of the University of Surrey. Delegates also heard from funding providers and experienced bid writers. Claire Tansley (EPSRC) and Carrie Wootten (KTN) gave valuable insights into national research funding and innovation networks, and Wavecrest’s Jeff Clifford (former Head of R&D at Double Negative) took us through the most common types of collaborative R&D public grant funding and application processes.

Delegates also had the opportunity to informally discuss a variety of research areas with academics from various universities including Bath, Bath Spa, Ravensbourne, Surrey and Greenwich. Thanks also to Setsquared’s Mile Davis for talking about the new Scale Up Programme, and University of Bath’s Rosie Bennet, who took us through the new ERDF funded programmes on offer for digital technology businesses in the South West.

Attendees left with better insight into the university research offering, collaboration routes, potential partnerships, relevant identified funding calls, and even some new projects. We wish all our participants success and hope to work with many of them in the future.