Advancing Volumetric innovation at the MIX Center
Explore a powerful new tool for immersive storytelling
Up to $50,000 for volumetric research and creative innovation
Canon, U.S.A. and Arizona State University are launching a seed grant innovation challenge to accelerate new applications of spatial storytelling, immersive media, and volumetric imaging across disciplines.
Researchers are invited to propose bold ideas that leverage Canon’s prototype small-format volumetric capture system, installed at the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center for the 2025–2026 academic year, for high-impact creative, technical or scientific innovation.
The Challenge
Apply to the Canon Volumetric Innovation Challenge by Feb. 5
The Canon Volumetric Innovation Challenge provides $10,000–$50,000 in seed funding for faculty-led projects that explore new applications of Canon’s prototype volumetric capture system. Awardees will receive dedicated system access during the spring 2026 semester, student capture support and a pathway toward future sponsored research collaboration.
Who can apply:
This challenge is open to all ASU affiliates. Projects must include at least one Herberger Institute faculty member or curator (ACD 505-02) serving as PI, Co-PI or Co-Investigator with a defined role in the project. Teams may include collaborators from other ASU units, external partners and graduate students. Cross-disciplinary teams that combine creative and technical expertise—spanning engineering, computation, design, health and storytelling—are especially encouraged.
Applicants seeking collaborators may use the Herberger Institute faculty directory.
We’re looking for projects that push boundaries in fields including but not limited to:
- Entertainment, immersive media, XR, and spatial narrative design
- Human performance, sports science, biomechanics, rehabilitation
- Medical training, simulation, and patient-centered tools
- Virtual production, animation, motion capture, game engine workflows
- Education, workforce training, and skill development tools
- Industrial design, digital twins, manufacturing workflow
Award summary and timeline Proposal deadline:
- Proposal deadline: Feb. 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. MST
- Awards announced: March 6, 2026
- 1–3 awards total
- $10,000–$50,000 per award
- Volumetric concept R&D: March 9–June 30, 2026
- Validation of research presentation: Through Nov. 1, 2026
- Includes capture support from Volumetric Innovation Fellows
Application opens Dec. 8.
Explore the system at the MIX Center
Test. Experiment. Imagine new possibilities.
Canon’s small-format volumetric capture prototype installed at the MIX Center uses 20 synchronized cameras and Gaussian splatting, transforming real human motion into high-fidelity, fully navigable 3D video.
Researchers may sign up for free open lab sessions to explore the system before submitting a proposal, and all ASU faculty may continue to use the system at no cost through June 2026.
Priority access will be given to challenge applicants and awardees.
The student experience: Volumetric Innovation Fellows
With Canon’s support, the Herberger Institute is launching a cohort of Volumetric Innovation Fellows, student operators trained to support capture sessions, data management, workflow documentation and usability testing.
These fellows provide capture operations support for research teams. The fellows will be student workers from Mesh Labs who will get the chance to delve into this new technology at MIX Center with Canon as they further their education.
Students across ASU are invited to participate in demos and capture sessions throughout the year.
Partner with us
Canon’s collaboration is part of a growing ecosystem of industry partners working with ASU to advance innovation for impact.
Together with our partners, we continually seek ways to expand our reach through teaching, research, discovery and strategic collaboration.
The Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center is ASU’s 118,000-sq-ft flagship for next-generation creative technology—home to advanced XR labs, virtual production facilities, film stages, fabrication shops, and immersive media research.