Outernet Challenge Innovation Fund 2025 

Overview

Media Cymru and Outernet London invite you to pitch a new piece of immersive content which amplifies the identity, and future, of creative innovation in Wales and harnesses the extraordinary technological capabilities of the Outernet.   

This is an opportunity to create bold, audience-centred experiences on one of the most advanced real-time media stages in the world. We want memorable ideas that push creative and technical boundaries: from interactive narratives and responsive soundscapes to generative visuals, AR integration, or immersive storytelling triggered by audience movement. 

This opportunity will be split into two phases: 

Phase one is a workshop which will ensure companies can make the most out of this opportunity.

Outernet will deliver a comprehensive on-boarding programme, including:    

• Technical onboarding:  Outernet-led sessions on the venue’s systems and requirements.  
• Creative development: Support in ideation, content creation, and immersive storytelling.   
• Prototyping and testing: Opportunities to refine ideas with expert feedback.   
• Production planning: Preparation for application and final content delivery.  

Phase two is a closed funding call to fund up to two projects at up to £25,000 each.  

Applications will only be open to participants from the workshop phase.  

This application process is for phase one  

Scope

We’re looking for experienced creative companies or freelance practitioners with the vision and technical capability to develop up to seven minutes of immersive content designed specifically for Outernet’s unique, interactive digital environment. 

Proposals should consider and utilise some of: 

• Media Cymru’s pillars – fair / green / growth / global
• Audience engagement and interaction
• Spotlighting Welsh creative talent.
• Real-time rendering and generative visuals
• Spatial audio,
• Skeletal tracking and gesture recognition,
• AR extensions

This is not a call for traditional media formats: we’re not seeking standard 16:9 video, promotional reels or explainers. We want original, experience-led storytelling — not marketing content. Think immersive theatre meets digital art; data meets dance; music meets movement — all reimagined for one of the most advanced public media spaces in the world. 

Key Dates

• 16 June 2025: Workshop applications open 
• 27 June 2025: Workshop applications close at noon 
• 7 July 2025: Successful applicants notified  
• 23 July 2025: Workshop at Tramshed (in-person) 
• 23 July 2025: Applications for R&D projects open 
• 6 August 2025: Applications for R&D projects close at noon 
• 22 August 2025: Successful applicants notified 
• 3 November 2025: R&D projects start 
• 26 January 2026: R&D projects end  

Accessibility

If you have any specific requirements that would make the application more accessible to you (such as advice, scribing or reading support) or would like to discuss this application in an alternative format (video or audio formats, audio narration, large font, plain text, or alternative language) please email media.cymru@cardiff.ac.uk or phone 02922 511 434. 

Eligibility

With all our activity, we are keen to reach the widest audience possible to ensure we hear the best ideas. We welcome applications from different sizes and types of organisations including micro-businesses, sole traders and freelancers.   

Eligibility criteria for the workshop: 

• You are based in Wales   
• You have a clearly articulated R&D idea which aligns with our scope 
• You currently work in the creative industries
• You can attend the workshop at Tramshed Tech on 23 July 2025  
• You can dedicate time and effort to complete an R&D project between November 2025 and January 2026 

What is Research and Development (R&D)?

Research and Development (R&D) activities are defined as creative and systematic work undertaken to address challenges and to create new or improved products, services, processes or experiences.

In a media context, this could mean exploring, experimenting with or testing new technology such as extended reality, artificial intelligence or virtual production. It could also mean exploring radical, fairer and more planet-friendly ways of working. It could involve testing new methods of producing, distributing and experiencing content, or new ways of reaching audiences and being more sensitive to their needs and demands.

The kind of R&D projects we are looking for are:

• Novel: they will be based on original concepts and hypotheses, not obvious ones.
• Creative: they will take experimental approaches and generate new findings.
• Uncertain: they will begin with a degree of uncertainty about the final outcomes.
• Systematic: they will be based on a planned and budgeted approach.
• Transferable: they will generate results that can be reproduced to gain wider benefits.

Media Cymru Pillars

We are keen to support projects that address some, or all, of our four strategic pillars:

• Green – reducing the environmental impact of the sector
• Fair – creating a fair, equal and diverse sector
• Global – increasing international collaborations
• Growth – driving growth and productivity through R&D.

Got any questions?

If you have any questions, please contact: media.cymru@cardiff.ac.uk