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Immersive technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, have enormous potential to make digital experiences more vivid and relatable. To accelerate progress in this field, four top European universities – Aalto University (Finland), Filmakademie Baden Württemberg (Germany), Universidad Pompeu Fabra (Spain) and University of Bath (UK) – have banded together to form a high-tech media lab that will work with, and support, organisations across Europe that are keen to embrace ‘extended reality’ (XR) but currently lack the know-how or tools. 

The European Media and Immersion Lab (EMIL) project aims to build the most effective and innovative media lab in Europe. The project received funding for nearly 8 million euros from the Horizon Europe. 

EMIL project now invites XR developers to collaborate. Organisations based in the EU are being invited to apply for funding to develop their XR ideas in partnership with the EMIL consortium. Funding is aimed at projects by outstanding technology developers, media innovators, SMEs, academia and others that enable new ways of creative storytelling and interaction through immersive media technologies. 

The first call is NOW OPEN, until January 31st, 2023. The second call will open early summer 2023. Both calls will award €2.8 million in funding. Each prospective partner can apply for between €250,000 and €500,000 to fund their project.

‘EMIL’s support for third party projects is excellent for already started XR and immersive projects in general, because it is 100% funding – or actually more, because apart from the funding, EMIL partners can and will support the projects by giving their resources like studios, equipment and know-how for the use of the projects. The purpose of the funding is to develop the projects into the level they can be commercialised,’ says Juhani Tenhunen from Aalto Studios. 

Working collaboratively, the four consortium members will share their expertise with partner organisations and provide business support, resources, training, and product development. As part of their offering, they will also open up their in-house ‘media and immersion’ labs, to help partners develop their vision. 

The project is coordinated by Aalto Studios, Aalto University. 

For more information: 

Juhani Tenhunen, International Projects and Collaboration, VR Interest Group Coordination 
Aalto Studios, juhani.tenhunen@aalto.fi +358 50 518 4087