Grant makes VR project a reality for Near-Life
EDUCATION tech company NearLife has been awarded a grant to deliver an interactive VR project to support the UK’s international response efforts.
Near-Life specialises in immersive learning and its interactive video software allows people to experience realistic scenarios, where they are presented with choices and their decisions determine the outcome.
The funding from Innovate UK will support the company in further developing its technology to allow for the creation of interactive VR learning, built around a pilot project focused on an Emergency Field Hospital scenario.
The bid was endorsed by the UK’s Department for International Development and will involve close collaboration with the UK’s emergency international responders, including UK ISAR. Funding is coming from Innovate UK’s Audience of the Future fund, aimed at the immersive tech space and designed to boost the UK’s strategic position in this emerging sector. The project will be a global first in how it is being designed and put together. The grant is being matched with investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, managed by Maven Capital Partners, and Innovate UK grant partners GC Angels. Both are following on from investments they’ve already made into Near-Life and its interactive video technology. Established in 2015, Near-Life has already developed a global reputation for its work in the development and disaster response space.
The company are behind the international learning platform ‘The Resilience Academy’ and were also a winner at last year’s learning and technology awards for their Frontline Humanitarian Toolbox project that was developed in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council.
Near-Life’s co-founder and CEO Mike Todd said: “This award is fantastic news for us. It will supercharge our ability to push the boundaries in the exciting world of immersive learning. There’s a lot of interesting work being done in Greater Manchester’s Tech Scene and it’s an exciting time to be working in this space – especially on a project like this that can make a real difference.” CONTACT OUR BUSINESS EDITOR