Panivox, the Leamington-based company behind the groundbreaking RichCast next-generation media platform, working in collaboration with Staffordshire University, has been awarded approximately \xa3500,000 in the form of a SMART Grant from Innovate UK, the Governments innovation agency.RichCast has been developed by video games industry veterans Neil Campbell and The Oliver Twins, and promises to open a new world of user-generated media experiences, called Titles, ranging from interactive choose your own adventures and games to linear stories and learning tools.The platforms #NoCode approach allows creators including writers, gamers, podcasters, and YouTubers to make, own, distribute and monetise diverse types of content that players can stream and enjoy through a single app across multiple devices.A unique aspect of RichCast is that the main interface for controlling the Titles is voice recognition. Players can talk to the in-game characters, who can understand and respond, allowing for deep and meaningful conversations as part of an immersive storytelling experience.RichCast also represents a breakthrough as the worlds easiest, fastest and cheapest programming system. The design-protected technology has far-reaching implications and could be a game-changer for many creatives and wider creative industries.The Innovate UK grant will support Panivox, in collaboration with Staffordshire University, to research and develop new features and experiences to showcase RichCasts use in Education and Serious Games, plus build its burgeoning community of creators, players and commercial partners globally.Innovate UK funds business and research collaborations to accelerate innovation and drive business investment into R&D. I look forward to experiencing the final software and seeing its impact on the global community of creators and players.Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western said: I was blown away by the technology behind Panivoxs pitch. Im thrilled by the prospect that this sort of pioneering innovation could be born in Leamington.The idea of anyone being able to make and distribute next-generation media like voice-controlled comics and videos sounds like it belongs in Black Mirror, not several months away from our mobile phones.It is even more staggering that a small start-up company in Leamington is leading the worlds largest firms in producing such a reality.