Digital Catapult is launching a 5G Immersive Lab in Newcastle, in partnership with North of Tyne Combined Authority.
It’s being backed by a £700k investment from the authority, through the Innovation Accelerator programme.
Based in Eldon Square, the Lab aims to boost digital skills, productivity and innovation across the region. This will be done by providing businesses with access to a Vodafone 5G Standalone test bed and immersive technology.
It will include co-working areas, meeting rooms and event spaces. it will also be connected to the Advanced Media Production studio at PROTO in Gateshead, so that businesses can test solutions in a real-world environment – to accurate their development and deployment.
“The new 5G Immersive Lab in Newcastle represents a tremendous opportunity for local companies to access the latest immersive and 5G technologies that will shape the future of business,” said Ashmita Randhawa, Director of Research and Development at Digital Catapult North East Tees Valley.
“As part of Digital Catapult’s nationwide network of cutting-edge facilities, the lab will break down barriers to digital adoption and empower local businesses to embrace new solutions to drive productivity, efficiency and growth. The North East is home to some of the country’s most exciting startups and businesses, and I’m excited that Digital Catapult will continue to play an important role in supporting the growth of the local economy and technology ecosystem.”
It will open in 2 stages, with the co-working space going live this spring and the full 5G Immersive Lab coming later in the summer.
“5G is more than just being able to stream videos faster on your phone. It helps businesses to innovate and solve problems. So it could mean better gaming experiences through virtual reality, more automation in our offshore renewable energy sector, driverless cars and even improved customer experience in shops,” added Mayor Jamie Driscoll.
“Imagine a digital mirror where you can see what a new outfit might look like – without getting physically changed. We don’t yet know the full capabilities of 5G and it will mean different things for different industries. That’s why this lab is really exciting, as it will provide the right environment and tools for businesses to test it out in a low cost, low risk way.”
According to Digital Catapult, Newcastle is the seventh best startup ecosystem in the UK and in the second quarter of 2023, venture capital investment into businesses across the North East more than doubled to £23.9m.
“Businesses are important pillars in any community, not only for playing pivotal roles in driving job creation and contributing to both the local economy and the UK’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), but also for sparking innovation, fostering entrepreneurship and diversity,” said Nick Gliddon, Director, Vodafone Business UK, which will be one of the delivery partners on the project.
“However, in recent research, we found that UK SMEs are missing out on £8.6bn a year in productivity savings due to the slow roll-out of 5G Standalone (5GSA). Now, more than ever, 5G Digital Innovation Labs are vitally important in providing these businesses with access to the latest technology needed to scale-up their operations and stay competitive. We look forward to working with Digital Catapult, North of Tyne Combined Authority and Eldon Square over the coming months and finding out how businesses are testing, exploring and identifying innovative user cases for 5GSA and ultimately shaping the future of their region.”
Dynamo North East will help to identify SMEs across the North of Tyne region that might benefit from the project. Local co-working company, Floe will support community engagement and management of the coworking space.
