EdTech company awarded £250k to support disaster response

Bolton EdTech company Near-Life has been awarded a total of £250,000 to deliver an interactive VR project to support the UK’s international response efforts.

The award comprises £175,000 from Innovate UK, and £75,000, co-ordinated by GC Angels, from private investors.

Near-Life specialises in immersive learning. The company’s interactive video software allows people to experience realistic scenarios, where they are presented with choices and their decisions determine the outcome.

Established in 2015, Near-Life has already developed a global reputation for its work in the development and disaster response space.

The company is behind the international learning platform ‘The Resilience Academy’ and was also a winner at last year’s learning and technology awards for its Frontline Humanitarian Toolbox project that was developed in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The Innovate UK grant will support the company in further developing its technology to allow for the creation of interactive VR learning, built around a pilot project focused on an Emergency Field Hospital scenario.

The bid was endorsed by the UK’s Department for International Development and will involve close collaboration with the UK’s emergency international responders, including UK ISAR.

Funding is coming from Innovate UK’s Audience of the Future fund, aimed at the immersive tech space and designed to boost the UK’s strategic position in this emerging sector. The project will be a global first in how it is being designed and put together.

The grant is being matched with investment from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, managed by Maven Capital Partners, and Innovate UK grant partners GC Angels. Both are following on from investments they’ve already made into Near-Life and its interactive video technology.

Near-Life’s co-founder and chief executive, Mike Todd, said: “This award is fantastic news for us. It will supercharge our ability to push the boundaries in the exciting world of immersive learning.

“There’s a lot of interesting work being done in Greater Manchester’s tech scene and it’s an exciting time to be working in this space – especially on a project like this that can make a real difference.”

Paul Lawless, who heads up lead project partner UK ISAR, said: “We’re really looking forward to working with Near-Life on this very much needed piece of learning to support the difficult work carried out by the UK’s international civilian responders.”

GC Angels fund manager Damian Mohammed added: “VR is no longer considered as an emerging technology – it is already having a huge impact on our everyday lives and in business.

“Greater Manchester is truly at the forefront of this innovation, and EdTech is primed to capitalise on the country’s position as one of the world’s leading tech hubs.

“This grant will enable the company to launch a revolutionary service that will have a longstanding impact, and we’re excited to see how the UK will benefit from this new technology.”

Tom Morgan, investment associate at Maven Capital Partners, said: “We are delighted to continue to support Near-Life in delivering this new project.

“Near-Life’s immersive and decision-based learning is particularly valuable in industries that face demanding, high stress and time-critical sensitive situations eg emergency services.

“Securing this Innovate UK grant will enable the business to take their immersive learning technology to the next level through the development of VR-based learning capabilities.”