MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is an Innovate UK-funded innovation accelerator within MediaCity, Salford, supporting businesses working in virtual production, VR/AR, esports, and gametech through collaboration infrastructure, research, and partner access.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSalford, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub does
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is a Greater Manchester innovation accelerator founded in 2023 and operated by Media City Salford Limited, the entity that runs MediaCity on behalf of Landsec (which secured 100% ownership of the campus in 2024). The Hub is funded by Innovate UK as a designated innovation cluster for immersive technologies, virtual production, esports, and gametech, providing collaborative infrastructure, research support, and partner access to businesses working in VR/AR, virtual production, gaming, and interactive media. Its principal customers are immersive-tech businesses, creative production companies, and gaming/esports organisations seeking collaboration infrastructure, talent access, and innovation support within a globally recognised creative campus.
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub
- Legal name
- Media City Salford Limited
- Website
- https://mediacityuk.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is an Innovate UK-funded innovation accelerator within MediaCity, Salford, supporting businesses working in virtual production, VR/AR, esports, and gametech through collaboration infrastructure, research, and partner access.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Immersive Technology Innovation Hub
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Production Asset Collaboration (shared bins, proxies, live collaboration) (MPAHANAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gaming & Virtual World Communities (BPAMABAE), Remote Workstations & Virtual Desktops for Media (GPU VDI, secure access) (MPAHANAE)
Keywords
Where MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salford
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Innovation Hub Services: The Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is funded by Innovate UK as an innovation accelerator. It provides support, resources, and collaboration opportunities for businesses in the immersive tech sector.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is a Greater Manchester innovation cluster that brings together businesses, researchers and talent to advance immersive technologies, virtual production, esports and gametech, funded by Innovate UK as an innovation accelerator. It is delivered through physical infrastructure including dock10 television studios and post-production, the 200Gbps MediaCity Network, the 5G-enabled Tomorrow Building, Flex Workspaces, and the Content Studio, enabling businesses to imagine, create, test, learn and collaborate on VR/AR experiences, virtual production and gaming technology.
Product overview
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub operates as the central innovation cluster for immersive tech, virtual production, esports and gametech at MediaCity, Salford. The portfolio consists of the Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub as the primary innovation initiative, supported by Studios at dock10 (the UK's leading television facility with ten purpose-built studios), MediaCity Network (a 200Gbps broadcast and connectivity infrastructure), Flex Workspaces and the Tomorrow Building (flexible managed workspace solutions), and Content Studio (bookable production facilities). The ecosystem is funded by Innovate UK and focuses on virtual/augmented reality experiences, virtual production techniques, and gaming/interactive technologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub A funded innovation cluster and accelerator programme that brings together businesses, researchers and talent to collaborate on advancing immersive technologies, virtual production, esports and gametech in Greater Manchester. Designed for VR/AR, virtual production, esports and gaming companies seeking innovation support, ecosystem collaboration, and access to MediaCity infrastructure.
- Studios at dock10 The UK's leading television facility offering ten purpose-built television studios including the UK's largest studio, plus specialist post-production services for broadcasters, production companies and creative agencies. ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and 50001 certified.
- MediaCity Network A 200Gbps broadcast network with advanced fibre connectivity, colocation hosting and international connectivity through 20+ service providers, connecting ten television studios, 50+ post-production suites, ingest facilities, control rooms and data centres.
- Flex Workspaces Flexible workspace solutions including virtual offices from £50/month, co-working from £30/day and private offices from £160/desk, with 24/7 access, meeting rooms and a waterfront location at MediaCity, Salford.
- Tomorrow Building UK's first immersive 5G hub workspace building, rated Platinum by WiredScore, offering high-specification offices with neutral fibre network and a purpose-built data centre at MediaCity.
- Content Studio Bookable light studios, podcast suites and meeting rooms for content creation, podcasts, photoshoots and creative projects at MediaCity.
Companies that use MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Manchester Animation FestivalcoreManchester Animation Festival partnered with MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub to conduct a major sector survey on Greater Manchester's animation, VFX, motion graphics, games, and immersive media sectors. The collaboration aims to assess industry contribution and promote growth.
- BBC Children's & EducationcoreBBC Children's & Education collaborated with the Innovation Hub on the Manchester Animation Festival sector survey to understand and support the regional animation industry.
- Greater Manchester Combined AuthorityminorThe Innovation Hub's research has prompted calls for Greater Manchester Combined Authority to formally recognise animation as a priority creative industry and establish support mechanisms.
- University of SalfordcoreThe University of Salford is a key innovation partner, offering research capabilities, facilities including broadcast-level TV studios, green-screened spaces, radio studios, and Maker Space for creating assets for film and animation.
- dock10coredock10 provides world-class television studios and specialist post production services at MediaCity. It manages connectivity infrastructure and provides facilities for content production.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Digital Catapult: UK-wide innovation accelerator for emerging technologies including immersive, AI, and creative tech. Operates multiple programmes that directly compete for the same startups, grant funding, and corporate partners that MediaCity's Innovation Hub targets.
- Pinewood Studios: UK's largest film and television studio complex offering purpose-built stages, post-production, and immersive production services. Directly competes with MediaCity/dock10 for high-end TV and film production work, particularly virtual production volumes.
- Shepperton Studios: Major UK film and TV production facility owned by a Brookfield/NBCUniversal consortium. Competes with dock10 at MediaCity for premium studio bookings and is investing in virtual production and immersive content capabilities.
- Station F: World's largest startup campus located in Paris, offering programmes for creators, immersive tech, and media startups. Operates a comparable model of anchor-partner-tenant ecosystem development that competes for European immersive-tech startup mindshare.
- Cambridge Innovation Center: US-based operator of large-scale innovation campuses and coworking communities. Provides a comparable model of physical innovation infrastructure with anchor tenant and programming partnerships that the MediaCity Hub emulates.
Broad incumbents
- BBC Studios: BBC's commercial production and distribution arm. As a major anchor tenant at MediaCity (Bridge House, Dock House, Quay House), BBC Studios both shapes demand for the Innovation Hub and represents an incumbent player in the same content production ecosystem.
- ITV Studios: Major UK commercial broadcaster with operations at MediaCity (Orange Tower). Acts as both a key tenant partner for the Innovation Hub and a competing production entity for talent, content commissions, and immersive media IP.
Emerging players
- disguise (d3 Technologies): UK-based technology company providing virtual production and extended reality (xR) solutions for live events, broadcasts, and immersive experiences. Operates in the same virtual production value chain that MediaCity's Hub is cultivating.
- Zero Latency: Global free-roam virtual reality entertainment network headquartered in Australia. A peer in the immersive experiences/gametech segment the Innovation Hub explicitly supports through its virtual and augmented reality programmes.
Regional players
- The Landing (Salford): Greater Manchester-based tech accelerator and coworking hub focused on digital and AI startups. Operates in the same regional ecosystem as MediaCity's Innovation Hub, partially overlapping on tech startup support and competing for talent in the North West.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub social profiles
Digital presenceMediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub
What does MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub do?
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is a Greater Manchester innovation cluster that brings together businesses, researchers and talent to advance immersive technologies, virtual production, esports and gametech, funded by Innovate UK as an innovation accelerator. It is delivered through physical infrastructure including dock10 television studios and post-production, the 200Gbps MediaCity Network, the 5G-enabled Tomorrow Building, Flex Workspaces, and the Content Studio, enabling businesses to imagine, create, test, learn and collaborate on VR/AR experiences, virtual production and gaming technology.
Is MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub a public or private company?
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub founded?
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub was founded in 2007.
Where is MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub based?
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub is headquartered in Salford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub make money?
One revenue line is on record: innovation Hub Services.
Who are MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Digital Catapult, Pinewood Studios, Shepperton Studios, Station F and Cambridge Innovation Center. Broad incumbents are BBC Studios and ITV Studios. Emerging players are disguise (d3 Technologies) and Zero Latency. The Landing (Salford) is listed as a regional player.
Does MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub have an API?
No public API is recorded for MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub.
What industry is MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub in?
MediaCity Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub's product category is Immersive Technology Innovation Hub. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHANAG, Production Asset Collaboration (shared bins, proxies, live collaboration), with a secondary code of BPAMABAE, Gaming & Virtual World Communities. Its NAICS code is 512 and its SIC code is 7812.