Immersive Experiences (IX) are one of the driving forces behind the next digital transition. They encompass a mix of sensory experiences created by a combination of digital and physical means. In other words: a world where digital and physical come together. The National Growth Fund program Creative Industries Immersive Impact Coalition (CIIIC) lays the foundation for a Dutch leading position in IX. The first call within the CIIIC program is expected to open this year: CIIIC-Start for exploratory practice-oriented IX research, developed in collaboration with the Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation CLICKNL.
The CIIIC-Start call finances research into the effective elements of IX applications. This practice-oriented exploratory research into the effectiveness of IX applications can cover the entire IX process: from the phase prior to the experience to that after the experience. In the research, researchers from universities and colleges can collaborate with IX creators and users. The projects within this call are aimed at short-cycle research questions that can be quickly built upon.
IX has various applications. For example, Virtual Reality technologies can be used for various training purposes. Think of surgeons practicing their skills or students learning to present to a virtual audience. But IX can also be used to let people experience things that are unfamiliar to them, such as neurodiversity The research within CIIIC-start contributes knowledge about the elements of IX that have an effect on the person undergoing the experience. More knowledge here leads to methods for determining the effectiveness of IX applications. With this knowledge, we can stimulate innovation in the field of IX applications and ensure that IX creators and users can use it effectively.
Budget
Researchers at universities and/or colleges will be able to submit applications for this call. The research will be carried out by a consortium of research organizations and practice partners, including IX creators and users. A maximum of € 50,000 in funding is available per project. A total of € 1 million is available .
About the National Growth Fund program CIIIC
The goal of the NGF program CIIIC is to increase the capacity to realize immersive experiences and to enable the industry and creators to seize opportunities and safeguard public interests. CIIIC stimulates and supports collaboration between IX creators, users, and researchers and strengthens the innovation ecosystem.
CIIIC has been developed by CLICKNL. NWO, with the leading organizational component Executive Agency SIA, is one of the executing organizations of the program together with TNO, the Creative Industry Stimulus Fund, CLICKNL, and the RVO. The CIIIC program consists of multiple calls in addition to the CIIIC-Start call.
Programs for the National Growth Fund
NWO implements thematic programs for research, knowledge development, and innovation funded by the National Growth Fund. The results of these programs are applicable in innovations and organizations, thus contributing to the sustainable earning capacity and broad prosperity of the Netherlands. In the programs, parties from the entire knowledge chain work together, both public and private.
Disclaimer
This is solely an announcement of a proposed research program from NWO. The possibility of applying for funding will open after the publication of a call for proposals in the Official Gazette.