Area of investment and support

Mindset extended reality (XR) for digital mental health programme

The Mindset programme aims to grow the UK’s nascent immersive digital mental health sector by:

• investing in projects which deliver immersive digital mental health therapeutics
• creating a supportive ecosystem which will help companies bring these innovations to market

• Budget: Total programme budget is close to £20 million with over £7 million allocated in grant funding to date. Further opportunities for grant funding are anticipated in 2024. In addition, an investor partnerships programme to complement this.
• Duration: This is a multi-stranded programme running from 2022 to at least 2026. At present there are five core workstreams planned to catalyse growth in the XR mental healthcare sector.
• Partners involved: Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) MindTech MedTech Cooperative

The scope and what we're doing

Mindset will comprise opportunities to grow the UK’s nascent immersive digital mental health sector through investment in projects which can deliver digital mental health therapeutics. The programme will also create a supportive ecosystem which will help companies bring these innovations to market.

The programme will provide support for innovators and stakeholders in the immersive technology and mental healthcare sectors. Most interested parties are those that are working, researching or innovating in the immersive mental health sector or have aspirations to do so.

The programme’s objective is to encourage fusion between the immersive technology sector and formal mental health providers. This is so that more people with mental health needs can be treated more quickly through immersive digital mental health therapies.

XR refers to extended reality and covers:

• augmented reality (AR)
• mixed reality (MR)
• virtual reality (VR)
• haptics
• interfaces
• platforms
• software

The above are often referred to as immersive technologies.

In addition to grant funding, the mindset programme will likely include:

• support and thought leadership through a specialist centre of excellence
• advice and signposting on how to access the market
• an alliance with formal mental healthcare providers so that creative technology innovators have a better chance of success
• an investor partnerships scheme

The Mindset-XR Innovation Support programme is funded by Innovate UK and run by HIN South London. It brings together organisations, experts and innovators who are involved or interested in growing the UK’s nascent immersive digital mental health sector, supporting the development of innovative solutions, through shared learning, accelerated development and collaboration.

Why we're doing it

To address current mental health needs across all ages in the UK by stimulating impactful digital mental health immersive therapeutic innovation.

Opportunities, support and resources available

Mindset extended reality (XR) for digital mental health: strand 1

In line with the programme’s development, we will add funding opportunities and events as they arise.

Who to contact

Ask a question about this area of investment

Mindset Innovation Lead

Email: jane.guest@iuk.ukri.org

Include ‘Mindset Programme’ in the subject line.

We aim to respond within five working days.

Last updated: 3 June 2024