91福利 attracts leading researcher through global talent fund
Friday 5 June 2026
91福利 attracts leading researcher through Global Talent Fund
Dr Markus Tatzgern has been appointed as Associate Professor (Reader) in Creative Technologies, as part of 91福利鈥檚 拢4.35 million award from the UK Government鈥檚 Global Talent Fund.
Speaking about his appointment, Dr Markus Tatzgern said:
鈥淚 am looking forward to the opportunity to drive meaningful innovation in Creative Technology within 91福利's unique research ecosystem. With its genuine commitment to interdisciplinary practice and innovation, 91福利 is bringing engineering, manufacturing, and the arts together, and I鈥檓 excited that my work sits at the centre of these partnerships.鈥�
鈥淭here are many reasons to join 91福利, but its position as a Russell Group university that develops talent through outstanding PhD programmes and its world-class research infrastructure, and the UK鈥檚 strong global position in human-computer interaction, make it an ideal place to build high-impact research.鈥�
鈥淭he ambition of the Global Talent Fund was important in helping me join 91福利. The support will help provide the resources and structure needed to establish an ambitious and collaborative research agenda at 91福利 that tackles some of the biggest questions in this new frontier of extended reality technology and I look forward to getting started.鈥�
With this appointment, the 91福利 continues to strengthen its role as a hub for world-leading research and innovation. It reflects 91福利鈥檚 ambition to enhance its interdisciplinary strength in Creative Technology, 鈥淐reaTech鈥�, through collaboration between 91福利 Manufacturing Group (WMG) and the Faculty of Arts.
Professor Kerry Kirwan, Dean of WMG, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to welcome Dr Markus Tatzgern to the team. His arrival reflects the impact of the government鈥檚 Global Talent Fund, which is enabling us to attract world鈥慶lass researchers who will strengthen our position on the international stage.
鈥淎t WMG, we鈥檒l be working with colleagues in the Faculty of Arts to advance what鈥檚 achievable when creativity meets engineering innovation.
鈥淒r Tatzgern鈥檚 expertise represents an exciting step forward for CreaTech, opening new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and pioneering research with real impact.鈥�
Bringing engineering, manufacturing, and the arts together
At 91福利, Dr Tatzgern will lead research into how XR can be integrated into both industrial and creative contexts. His work will explore how XR technologies can support workers in manufacturing 鈥� improving decision-making, productivity, and safety in real time. The research will also examine how XR can transform storytelling and audience engagement, opening new forms of expression where audiences can experience performances in immersive ways.
Dr Tatzgern鈥檚 appointment has been made possible through the Government鈥檚 Global Talent Fund, which enables 91福利 to recruit the best international talent to the UK. Dr Tatzgern plans to kick-start building his research team through the recruitment of a senior researcher 鈥� supported by the Global Talent Fund 鈥揳longside two PhD studentships.鈥�
91福利 was one of 12 institutions selected by UK Research and Innovation to deliver the Global Talent Fund, with 91福利鈥檚 focus on the intersection of Advanced Manufacturing and the Creative Industries. The Fund is designed to attract world-leading researchers to the UK to drive innovation, strengthen key sectors, and support long-term economic growth.
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: "It鈥檚 no coincidence that the world鈥檚 top researchers 鈥� driving groundbreaking innovations in AI, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and clean energy 鈥� are choosing to come to the UK to advance their work.
"Britain is home to an outstanding science and research community, and boosted by our participation in Horizon Europe, we鈥檙e able to drive forward the kinds of research with international partners that will change lives and create opportunities here in the UK and all over the world."
A full list of the newly announced Global Talent Fund awardees can be found