OPENVERSE is proud to share a major milestone for Europe’s digital future: the European Commission has officially launched the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds, a groundbreaking initiative uniting industry leaders, research institutions, and end-users to accelerate innovation and ensure Europe’s leadership in next-generation virtual environments.
As an EU-funded project under the Horizon Europe programme and a strong advocate for human-centric, interoperable virtual worlds, OPENVERSE warmly welcomes—and actively supports—the creation of the new Virtual World Association, the key partner organisation steering this initiative. We are excited to contribute to shaping the technologies, skills, and ethical foundations that will define the future of virtual worlds in Europe.
A Strategic Step Toward European Leadership in Virtual Worlds
During a ceremony held in Brussels, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Matthieu Worm, President of the newly established Virtual Worlds Association, formalised the partnership. This collaboration reflects Europe’s commitment to building an innovative, trustworthy, and competitive virtual world ecosystem grounded in Web 4.0 principles.
Virtual Worlds—persistent, immersive environments powered by 3D, XR, and advanced simulation technologies—are rapidly transforming how people work, learn, design, heal, and engage with culture. Applications range from precision healthcare diagnostics and engineering digital twins to immersive education and cultural heritage preservation.
Global market projections illustrate the scale of this transformation: the virtual worlds market is expected to grow from €27 billion in 2022 to more than €800 billion by 2030, underscoring the need for strong European leadership.
A Strong Public–Private Partnership
Under this new partnership:
- The European Commission plans to invest up to €200 million in research and innovation during the current Multiannual Financial Framework.
- Members of the Virtual Worlds Association will match this with at least €200 million between 2025 and 2030.
This joint effort will strengthen Europe’s research excellence, boost interoperability and standardisation, support skills development, and enable the deployment of trustworthy, human-centric virtual worlds.
The Association, led by Siemens, brings together 18 founding members representing Europe’s rich technological and scientific landscape, including universities, research centres, major industry players, and innovative SMEs.
“Virtual worlds are not just entertainment – they are powerful tools to tackle Europe’s most pressing challenges and solve real-world problems. By fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, we can drive unprecedented gains in safety, sustainability, and competitiveness.”
Matthieu Worm, President of the Virtual Worlds Association.
Concrete Benefits for Citizens and Businesses
The European Partnership for Virtual Worlds is designed to deliver real, tangible impact across sectors:
- Industry & Sustainability: digital twins and advanced simulations to reduce costs and environmental impact
- Healthcare: VR tools for training, surgical planning, and rehabilitation
- Education: safe, interoperable 3D learning environments for schools and universities
- Culture & Creativity: immersive museums, performances, and accessible heritage experiences
The partnership’s first Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda sets the roadmap, addressing technological priorities alongside ethical, legal, societal, and sustainability considerations for the future Web 4.0 environment.
Background
This partnership is a central element of the EU’s Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds Strategy published in July 2023. The strategy focuses on:
- Empowering citizens and strengthening digital skills
- Supporting businesses
- Enabling public-sector innovation
- Promoting openness, interoperability, and global governance for virtual worlds
Its priorities were shaped through citizens’ panels across Europe, ensuring the future of virtual worlds is built on inclusivity, trust, and shared European values.
The Partnership signed on the 10 December, brings together the European Commission and the Virtual Worlds Association, led by Siemens and composed of 18 founding members, representing a strong cross-section of the European ecosystem:
- Siemens (DE)
- SAP (DE)
- Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (ES)
- VRT media Flanders (BE)
- VTT (FI)
- CNRS (FR)
- CNR (IT)
- PopulAR (BE)
- Brainstorm (ES)
- CERTH (GR)
- Voxel Sensors (BE)
- KU Leuven (BE)
- Fraunhofer (DE)
- DFKI (DE)
- imec (BE)
- Poznań University of Economics and Business (PL)
- CSGroup (FR)
- Immersion (FR)
Please read the news item here.
And please stay tuned for more updates!