What Immerse UK does

Immerse UK, trading as the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network, is a London-based non-profit membership network established in 2016 that connects content creators, application developers, service providers, and solution providers across the UK's immersive technology (XR, VR, AR, MR) sector. The organisation operates under IUK KTN Limited, registered in England and Wales (company number 08705643), and functions as a Knowledge Transfer Network within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with initial and ongoing funding from Innovate UK. It serves four broad constituencies: immersive-technology industry providers, research and academic organisations, the public sector, and cross-industry adopters in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, broadcasting, defence, and cultural institutions. Founder partners include Microsoft, Epic Games, BAE Systems, PwC, Digital Catapult, HVM Catapult, AMRC, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, HTC Vive, Arup, StoryFutures Academy, CAMERA, REWIND, Factory-42, Imagination, Marshmallow Laser Feast, University of York, and Sheridans.

The network does not build or sell a proprietary technology product. Instead, it operates a community-led platform offering a members directory, a funding and opportunities portal, an events platform hosting the annual Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards (2024 and 2025 editions) and Lunchtime Live Webinars, an industry reports and publications library (including the biennial UK Immersive Economy Report produced with Oxford Insights and Data City), a case studies library, working groups, a jobs board, a showcase platform, and a community hub for member projects. Technical delivery is via the website at iuk.immersivetechnetwork.org with self-serve member registration and content publishing. The underlying stack is standard web/community tooling; no proprietary models, AI features, SDKs, or APIs are disclosed.

Commercially, Immerse UK operates a free membership model (FAQ states membership is free with access to resources and the directory), generating no direct membership or product revenue. Operating funds flow from Innovate UK / UKRI rather than fees or external investment, and no funding rounds, M&A, or third-party sponsorship are disclosed. Scale commentary refers to the UK immersive sector the network represents — approximately 1,000 specialist companies, around 4,500 employees, and £660 million in sales per the 2018 Immersive Economy Report (representing potentially 9% of global market share) — rather than Immerse UK's own financial scale. The customer concentration is therefore effectively a single funder (Innovate UK/UKRI), with named case-study end users (BBC, Highways England, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Pashley, Govia Thameslink Railway, Reality Check Productions, South Yorkshire Vehicle Conversion Company) serving as illustrative member applications rather than paying customers.

Name

Immerse UK

Legal name

IUK KTN Limited

Website

https://immerseuk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Immerse UK (Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network) is a London-based non-profit membership network that connects UK immersive technology providers, researchers, and cross-industry adopters, funded by Innovate UK/UKRI and offering events, awards, funding guidance, and sector reports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association / Immersive Technology Network

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

XR/AR/VR/MR Development Frameworks & Toolchains (MPAFAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Virtual & Hybrid Event Platforms (Webinars, Virtual Venues, Event Hubs) (THAHAOAA)

Keywords

• Immersive technology network
• XR industry membership
• Knowledge transfer network
• Innovation ecosystem platform
• Immersive tech community

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Based on FAQ and website content, membership appears to be free. Members gain access to resources, the directory, ability to create profiles, and post projects and showcases. The organization is supported by Innovate UK as part of UK Research and Innovation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Immerse UK operates the UK national membership network for immersive technology, connecting content, application, service and solution providers with buyers, customers, researchers, academics and government stakeholders. It delivers a free membership programme that includes a searchable member directory, a funding and opportunities portal, an annual Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards ceremony, working groups, a jobs board, a project showcase, industry reports and publications, case studies, and a programme of events and webinars, funded by Innovate UK within the UK Research and Innovation ecosystem.

Product overview

Immerse UK (trading as Innovate UK Immersive Technology Network) is the UK's leading membership organization for immersive technologies, operating as a network platform rather than a single software product. The organization connects industry, research, and academic organizations, public sector, and innovators through a suite of interconnected services including the annual Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards, a Funding & Opportunities Portal for R&D support, a Members Directory for networking, an Industry Reports and Publications library featuring the biennial Immersive Economy Report, a Case Studies Library, Events Platform, Working Groups, Jobs Board, and Showcase Platform. The network was established in 2016 and serves as the UK's only membership organization dedicated to supporting content, applications, services, and solution providers in the immersive tech sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards Annual awards programme celebrating excellence across the UK immersive technology sector, recognising companies, individuals and innovations across multiple XR categories. Annual edition; 2025 edition partnered with SXSW London to provide Screen Passes to winners and brought together hundreds of industry experts, academics, professionals, government representatives and students from across the XR community.
• Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards 2025 The 2025 edition of the annual Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards, celebrated across 5 award categories with hundreds of industry experts, academics, professionals, government representatives and students from across the XR community. SXSW London partnered as an industry partner providing a free Screen Pass to winners.
• Funding & Opportunities Portal Centralised resource surfacing the latest funding and finance opportunities from across all industries in the UK economy, supporting R&D and company growth among immersive tech members. Includes live funding listings and funding resources.
• Members Directory Searchable directory of individual and organisational members within the immersive tech network, supporting connections and collaborations across the sector. Members can create profiles and post content.
• Events Platform Calendar and registration platform for immersive tech events, webinars and networking opportunities including the annual awards ceremony and the Lunchtime Live webinar series.
• Working Groups Specialised subgroups within the network focusing on specific topics in immersive technology, enabling focused collaboration and knowledge sharing among members.
• Jobs Board Employment listings specific to the immersive technology sector, connecting employers with qualified professionals within the UK XR community.
• Showcase Platform Feature allowing members to showcase their immersive technology projects and innovations to the wider community as part of the directory listing.
• Community Hub / Projects Interactive space for community members to share and collaborate on immersive technology projects within the network.
• Industry Reports and Publications Collection of research reports and publications covering the UK immersive economy, including the biennial Immersive Economy Report (e.g., 2022 UK Immersive Economy Report in collaboration with Oxford Insights & Data City), Virtual Production Skills Report, Feasibility of an Immersive Digital Twin, Immersive Technologies in Manufacturing Report, Skills for Immersive Experience Creation, The Promise of Immersive Healthcare, Seeing is Believing, and The Effectiveness of VR Soft Skills Training in the Enterprise.
• Case Studies Library Collection of case studies showcasing real-world applications of immersive technologies across industries including healthcare (e.g., Moorfields Eye Hospital), manufacturing (e.g., Pashley ALECS, South Yorkshire Vehicle Conversion Company), transport (e.g., Govia Thameslink Railway AR Maintenance 4.0), media (e.g., BBC VR Library Tour across 150+ libraries), infrastructure (e.g., MXTreality / Highways England) and the arts (e.g., Reality Check Productions' The Round).
• Lunchtime Live Webinars Regular webinar series providing educational content on immersive technology topics, industry trends, and best practices to network members and the wider XR community.
• Career Breakout Showcase Component of the awards programme focused on emerging talent and career development in the immersive tech sector, including paid internship prizes for entrants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Around 1,000 immersive specialist companies in UK employing approximately 4,500 people and generating £660 million in sales
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SXSW LondoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 May 2025SXSW London is an industry partner for the Innovate UK Immersive Tech Awards 2025, supporting the community as they celebrate finalists and winners. SXSW London provides a free Screen Pass to winners at the awards reception proceedings.
• AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner of the network. Represents the manufacturing research community in the immersive tech ecosystem.
• Digital CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner. Digital Catapult is a leading UK innovation centre for advanced digital technology, producing research including the Audience of the Future Immersive Audience Journey Report.
• HVM Catapult (High Value Manufacturing Catapult)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner. HVM Catapult supports manufacturing innovation including immersive technologies in manufacturing through reports like the Feasibility of an Immersive Digital Twin and Immersive Technologies in Manufacturing Report.
• Epic GamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing the gaming and real-time 3D technology platform provider in the immersive tech ecosystem.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing major technology platform provider in the immersive tech ecosystem.
• BAE SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing the aerospace and defence industry in the immersive tech ecosystem.
• ArupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing the engineering and infrastructure consultancy in the immersive tech ecosystem.
• National TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing cultural institution exploring immersive applications in performing arts. Their Head of Digital Development, Toby Coffey, provides testimonials for the network.
• Royal Shakespeare CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing cultural institution in immersive storytelling. Their Director of Digital Development, Sarah Ellis, provides testimonials for the network.
• PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner. PwC has published influential research including 'Seeing is Believing' exploring VR/AR value to economy and 'The Effectiveness of VR Soft Skills Training in the Enterprise' study.
• Vive (HTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing VR hardware platform provider in the immersive tech ecosystem.
• StoryFutures AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner. StoryFutures is the UK's National Centre for Immersive Storytelling, producing Virtual Production Skills Reports and Skills for Immersive Experience Creation reports.
• CAMERAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing research centre focused on motion capture and immersive technologies.
• REWINDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner. CEO Sol Rogers provides testimonials for the network. REWIND is a digital experiences studio specializing in immersive content.
• Factory-42coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing immersive content production company.
• ImaginationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing experiential design and immersive experiences agency.
• Marshmallow Laser FeastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing immersive experiences studio combining technology and art.
• Royal Opera HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization. Annette Mees, Head of Audience Labs, provides testimonials for the network showcasing immersive tech applications in performing arts.
• Hatsumi VRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization. Founder Sarah Ticho provides testimonials. Hatsumi VR partnered with Immerse UK and IET on The Promise of Immersive Healthcare Report.
• Dream Reality InteractivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization. CEO Dave Ranyard provides testimonials for the network. An established immersive content studio.
• University of YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing academic institution in the immersive tech research ecosystem.
• SheridanscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing media and entertainment law firm in the immersive tech ecosystem.
• ArcadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner representing creative studio in the immersive tech ecosystem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• StoryFutures Academy: StoryFutures Academy is the UK's National Centre for Immersive Storytelling, producing the Virtual Production Skills Report and other research. It overlaps with Immerse UK in the UK XR ecosystem, especially around skills and content, but is primarily a research/skills centre rather than a sector-wide membership body.
• IGDA (International Game Developers Association): The IGDA is the largest international membership organisation for game developers, running global events, special interest groups and advocacy. It is a structural peer to Immerse UK in operating a global membership/events model for a games-adjacent community, but does not focus on XR specifically.

Direct peers

• UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE): UKIE is the trade body for the UK interactive entertainment industry, representing games publishers, developers and the wider ecosystem. It shares Immerse UK's membership-organization, policy-advocacy and events-based model, but its focus is the broader UK games industry rather than XR specifically.
• TIGA: TIGA is the trade association representing the UK video games industry, providing advocacy, networking and business support. Like Immerse UK, it is a UK-focused membership organization that champions a creative-technology sector in policy and funding discussions, though its remit is traditional games rather than XR.
• VR/AR Association: The VR/AR Association is the largest global trade body specifically for the XR industry, running chapters, events and member programmes worldwide. It mirrors Immerse UK's community-led, membership-based model but operates globally and independently rather than under a single national government sponsor.
• Digital Catapult: Digital Catapult is the UK's leading advanced digital technology innovation centre, with immersive technology as one of its core focus areas. It is the closest structural peer to Immerse UK: a publicly-backed, programme-driven organization that runs accelerator activities, produces flagship reports and convenes UK industry around emerging digital technologies.
• BIMA (British Interactive Media Association): BIMA is the UK's leading trade body for digital media, technology and the creative industries, running member programmes, awards and policy advocacy. It mirrors Immerse UK's membership-organization, events-and-awards, and policy-engagement model, but with a broader digital and creative remit rather than an XR-only focus.
• AWE (Augmented World Expo): AWE organises the world's largest XR industry conference and runs a year-round community and awards programme. It is a direct peer in terms of community-building, awards and sector visibility for XR, but operates as a commercial global event brand rather than a UK government-affiliated membership body.

Broad incumbents

• Creative UK: Creative UK is the national trade body for the UK creative industries (formed from the merger of the Creative Industries Federation and others). It is comparable to Immerse UK as a UK membership organization that convenes and advocates for a creative-tech community, but its scope spans the full creative industries rather than XR specifically.
• Tech Nation: Tech Nation has historically been the UK's lead ecosystem organization for growth-stage tech companies, running programmes, events and reports. It is comparable to Immerse UK in acting as a publicly-supported convener of a UK tech community, but its remit is broad tech rather than XR, and its operating model has been significantly curtailed in recent years.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ImmerseUK_

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Immerse UK