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Q&A from Future Live Fan Experiences R&D Challenge information webinar

A transcript of questions from attendees at the Future Live Fan Experiences R&D Challenge information webinar on 22 April, with responses from the following representatives from XR Network+ and MusicFutures:

  • John Rose-Adams, Associate Director Research, Development and Innovation, XR Stories and XR Network+
  • Pete Woodbridge, Creative Technologist and Director of Innovation, MusicFutures
  • Damian Murphy, Director XR Stories and XR Network+

1 Are submissions to the MusicFutures stream expected to work with universities as well?

It’s not a requirement but it is something we sometimes like to see. You don’t have to cost in a university partner but you can.

2. Can the industry partners be non-UK based?

For XR Network+ we’re interested in seeing what the lead university sees as being the right team to deliver their project aims. If there is good justification for an international partner and that can be managed by the lead university then that’s OK. 

A few of our other XR Network+ funded projects have had an international connection/partner. It’s all about the lead university partner and what they need to deliver that project. If it’s viable, can be managed by the lead institution, with clear deliverables that fit the call then they can deliver with a non-UK based industry partner. 

For MusicFutures, there’s guidelines on the subcontracting number and they are more restrictive about allowing non-UK partners. However, if that is the instance, please get in touch with the MusicFutures team to talk about your circumstances directly. We understand that sometimes to make something you need to be building with a certain partner but we would need to enquire further about specific details to see if we could make it eligible. 

3. For the university-led call – how ‘elastic’ is your definition of a cultural event? As in, would an application that built audience/fan experience around the launch of a novel be in scope?

Yes, as long as you focus on the criteria and the live event is the key thing. If the launch involves bringing people together for a live experience and doesn’t stray too far from the touchpoints given in the R&D Challenge guidance document – large scale venues, places and spaces – that’s not going to exclude you because it’s a live fan type experience.

There will be a full calendar of events happening at the Liverpool Experience Arena (LEX) during the timeline of the R&D Challenge projects. It might be that we can tie in specific demo opportunities with events relevant to projects (for example, Comic Con).

4. Would we be able to partner with CoStar Live Lab as part of this bid? As they are both by the University of York?

CoSTAR is a network of five labs around the UK funded by the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and each led by a UK University partner:

  • CoSTAR Live Lab is led by the University of York.
  • CoSTAR Realtime Lab is led by Abertay University
  • CoSTAR Screen is led by Ulster University 
  • The National Lab is in led by Royal Holloway London
  • CoSTAR Foresight Lab is led by Goldsmiths University of London

If you wanted to partner with the CoSTAR Live Lab then that would be welcomed. If Live Lab was leading the project then it would be a University of York bid and that’s fine. We have fielded applications led by the University of York in previous calls. It’s also fine if CoSTAR Live Lab is a junior partner on someone else’s bid.

5. If the SME is not based in Liverpool but the project partners with venues in Liverpool would it still be eligible and able to lead a submission?

The lead applicant needs to be from the Liverpool city region so in that situation we’d be keen to see you looking to encourage the Liverpool partner to put in as the lead and shape the project in a different way so that it is eligible. 

6. Can your event be part of an ongoing three to five year project plan to scale from a small 200 capacity space and move up to 500, then 1,000 capacity onwards?

Yes, and we encourage prototypes to be thinking that way. Just make sure that within the six month project window that there’s a clear outcome of the overall journey of the idea.

7. Can the Liverpool Experience Campus be a lead partner given the role they have in the project?

No, the Liverpool Experience Campus (LEX) cannot be the lead partner in a project because they are the challenge partner. It might be that you are working with a promoter that works with the LEX and so if that’s the case, have a think about different ways to structure the project.

For the XR Network+ projects, there’s no requirement to pitch a project that works with the LEX. If you’ve got a project that you think would work well in the context of LEX then please get in touch to talk to us about that, but it’s not a necessary requirement.

For MusicFuture projects, we’re interested in projects that use LEX as a testbed. It doesn’t have to be the end point but we’re opening up the space as a place to test something that might scale into other venues in the future. It’s really about thinking about these medium to large venues and what they might need in the future.

8. I’m working with a musician on a multidisciplinary experience which creates space and prompts for audiences to connect with each other at live music events. It involves digital art works but is not primarily tech-led as a whole. How important is a tech focus to this fund, and would more analogue approaches to future fan experiences be eligible?

XR Network+ is very much a technology focused programme of funding and support so this project wouldn’t be appropriate for XR Network+ funding. The Future Live Fan Experience R&D Challenge is about R&D and innovation and so if it’s something you could do now without going through the R&D process to create something novel then it’s probably not eligible for this funding. 

Projects must make use of new technologies and be innovative, although projects can include elements that are not technology-driven. If you’re doing something really interesting about participation, perhaps have a think about how you frame it in terms of innovation and R&D.

9. Are submissions able to further develop previous R&D funded by other ‘clusters’? Or should it be a completely fresh idea?

That would be possible. All projects and R&D have something of a life before and after but we would welcome within your application a clear articulation on what has been done to date, what has been learned and how this idea is substantially the next step. If it’s the same project, the same objectives and the same outcomes, that’s not likely to be something we can fund.

10. Will you be perhaps pushing collaborators together that can work… i.e. I have a space, they have an idea… combine the two? Many standalone ideas might find partners while applying for the fund.

We often field this question but bringing partners together would also be moving away from our ability to independently award and support projects and so we don’t do it. It also isn’t practical within the remaining application period for the R&D Challenge. 

11. For the R&D fund, is the output expected to be an event at scale or can the prototype be employed in smaller events and its scalability demonstrated through the project outcomes?

Yes, whatever scale you feel is appropriate to test is fine. We appreciate that a full blown production can add a lot of costs so whatever you feel is appropriate. Having that eye to scalability is also very useful. If it is a small scale test – which most are – how can you extrapolate that onto a larger venue scale test.

Access the slides presented at the information webinar.

Additional information and guidance for university-led projects (XR Network+)

Additional information and guidance for SME-led projects (MusicFutures)