UK Innovation in Immersive XR Technologies for screen, performance and digital entertainment: UKRI funding trends and insights (2006–2024)

This report provides a benchmark for the state of play of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) investment into XR technologies for screen, performance and digital entertainment at the close of 2024, against which the future effects of the Convergent Screen Technologies and Performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) Network activities can be compared. In providing an overview of the funding context of UK-based XR activity before the intervention of the CoSTAR Network, in similar and adjacent spaces to CoSTAR, the report functions as a baseline view of the funding context to track key trends in funding allocations and funded XR activity, to quantify investment in the space as a first step to demonstrating results of the investment, and to identify knowledge gaps in the investment history of UK-based XR activity.