09 Jul 2024
by Rory Daniels

techUK's Web3 & Immersive sprint campaign

Running from July to December 2024, this sprint campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of Web3 and Immersive technologies.

This is part of techUK's flagship Unleashing Innovation campaign, an ongoing programme of activity that aims to empower our member organisations to realise the potential of UK technology and innovation by showcasing the possibilities of emerging technologies, convening key stakeholders and shaping innovation policy.

Activity has taken the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a summary document.

This sprint campaign followed techUK's Gaming and Esports sprint, which launched in January 2024.


⚙️ Technologies

Web3 is an umbrella term for technologies that decentralise data ownership and control on the internet. These include Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) such as blockchain, digital tokens or currencies, and smart contracts.

Immersive technologies create distinct experiences by merging the physical world with a digital or simulated reality. Examples include Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR) (collectively known as Extended Reality, or XR), haptics, and holograms.


🎯 Objectives

The sprint campaign had the following objectives:

  1. To convene the UK's Web3 & Immersive sectors to increase awareness of stakeholders, drive collaboration, and create opportunities for partnerships
  2. To identify the main Web3 & Immersive technologies set to drive UK economic growth and productivity
  3. To determine the key barriers to the development, application, and commercialisation of these technologies in the UK (format: workshops and/or roundtables)
  4. To develop then share a set of recommendations for industry and Government to ensure the UK leads on the Web3 & Immersive technologies of the future (format: summary document)

techUK worked with a range of member organisations and stakeholders to make this sprint campaign a reality including Innovate UK's Immersive Tech Network, Digital Catapult, Improbable, Linklaters, Shoosmiths, and the Metaverse Institute.


📺 Event round-ups

Catch up on previous events from this sprint campaign.


👀 Insights

Rediscover relevant news, announcements, and calls for conributions.


 👋 Get in touch!

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Contact Rory at [email protected] to get involved in this sprint campaign or find out more about techUK's future activity across Robotics & Automation or Emerging Technologies / Innovation more widely.

You can also find Rory on LinkedIn, where he regularly posts about emerging tech, here.


Click below to view our other Unleashing Innovation series


techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation 

The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.

techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.

For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’. 


Upcoming events

Latest news and insights

Other forms of content

Sprint Campaigns

techUK's sprint campaigns explore how emerging and transformative technologies are developed, applied and commercialised across the UK's innovation ecosystem.

Activity includes workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and flagship reports (setting out recommendations for Government and industry).

Each campaign runs for 4-6 months and features regular collaborations with programmes across techUK. 

techUK's latest sprint campaign is on Robotics & Automation technologies. Find out how to get involved by clicking here.

New Space

Running from September to December 2023, this sprint campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies, bring more non-space companies into the sector, and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.

These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.

Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report. The report, containing member case studies and policy recommendations, was launched in March 2024 at Satellite Applications Catapult's Harwell campus.

Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.


Event round-ups


Report


Insights


Get in touch

Rory Daniels

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Gaming & Esports

Running from January to May 2024, this sprint campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.

These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).

Activity took the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations was launched at The National Videogame Museum in November 2024.

Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.


Report


Event round-ups


Insights


Get in touch

Rory Daniels

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Web3 & Immersive

Running from July to December 2024, this sprint campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.

These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.

Activity took the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report (to be launched in 2025).

Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.


Event round-ups


Insights


Get in touch

Rory Daniels

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Robotics & Automation

Running from February to June 2025, this sprint campaign is exploring how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of robotic & automation technologies.

These include autonomous vehicles, drones, humanoids, and applications across industry & manufacturing, defence, transport & mobility, logistics, and more.

Activity is taking the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report (to be launched in Q4 2025).

Get in touch below to get involved or find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.


Upcoming events


Insights

Guest blog _ Rainbird.png

The Evolution of AI Reasoning


Event round-ups


Get in touch

Rory Daniels

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Campaign Weeks

Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.

Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.


Summits

Tech and Innovation Summit 2023

View the recordings

 

Tech and Innovation Summit 2024

Watch here

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Authors

Rory Daniels

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies, techUK

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.

This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.

Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

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