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New York City will fund a virtual reality and augmented reality lab

Silicon Alley

New York City will fund a virtual reality and augmented reality lab

In a bid to trump their West Coast rivals, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) yesterday announced that they will invest $6 million into a virtual reality (VR) and augment reality (AR) lab—the first of its kind on the East Coast. The NYCEDC and MOME are set to release a request for proposals early next year to set up and run the lab.

According to NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer, the decision was made to make the most of the rapidly emerging VR technology scene. The lab (whose location is yet to be decided) will also be the country’s first ever publicly funded institution of its kind. Earlier this year, Antonio Pacheco, the west editor of The Architect’s Newspaper, noted the rise of VR being used by architecture firms such as Gensler, NBBJ, and Özel in California.

The lab in New York will serve as an incubator for VR/AR businesses. In a press release, the NYCEDC and MOME said that the city’s VR/AR industry has seen more than $50 million invested in the past year along with a 125 percent increase in job demand. In terms of operation, the lab will support the growth of VR/AR companies by providing space, infrastructure, and resources. Additionally, it will serve as a place for people involved in the industry to gather.

“The timing could not be better. The talent in New York City, along with its anchor industries, place this city in a unique position to propel its sprouting VR/AR sector from early disruption to everyday, cross-sector application. Convening the technologists, academics, storytellers and start-up veterans that New York City hosts and attracts will create an invigorating boost to VR/AR’s momentum as we head into 2017,” said Adaora Udoji, managing director of The Boshia Group and adjunct professor of storytelling, New York University.


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