OPENVERSE Summit “Open and Co-Created Virtual Worlds for Europe”

The OPENVERSE Summit 2026 is the flagship European policy and ecosystem event dedicated to building open, interoperable, and human-centric Virtual Worlds.

Taking place in Brussels, at the heart of EU decision-making, the Summit positions Europe not only as a technological innovator, but as a global standard-setter shaping the rules and values of future immersive environments.

Organised by the OPENVERSE Coordination and Support Action (CSA), the Summit will serve as a high-level convening platform bringing together EU policymakers and institutional leaders; Horizon Europe projects and research initiatives; Industry pioneers and technology providers; Civil society representatives; Investors and ecosystem builders. Its strategic Brussels location underscores its role as a policy-driven milestone aligned with Europe’s digital priorities.

Why This Summit Matters Now

Virtual Worlds are rapidly emerging as foundational infrastructure for Europe’s digital transformation. They are reshaping:

• Industry and advanced manufacturing
• Research and innovation
• Culture and creative sectors
• Education and skills development
• Public services
• Climate resilience and sustainability

At a time when global Virtual World ecosystems are increasingly shaped by closed, proprietary platforms, Europe must advance a distinct and future-proof vision grounded in:

• Openness and interoperability
• Human-centric and ethical design
• Trust, safety, and accessibility
• Strategic autonomy and global competitiveness

Join us in Brussels to shape Europe’s open and co-created Virtual future.

Keynote

Speakers

Agenda

09:00 – 10:00 | Registration, Welcome Coffee & OPENVERSE Exhibition Opens 

10:00 –10:30 | Opening Remarks

• Welcome from OPENVERSE Coordinator: Francesco Mureddu (The Lisbon Council)
• Summit objectives and expected outcomes 
• Keynote from Anne Bajart (Deputy Head of Unit at European Commission): EU Strategy for Virtual Worlds, present and future. 
• OPENVERSE vision for Human-Centric & Sovereign Virtual Worlds 

10:30-11:30 | SESSION 1: Future Scenarios and Roadmap for Open and Co-Created Virtual Worlds at Horizon 2030–2040
This session will explore the various possible futures for sovereign, human-centred and open virtual worlds in Europe between 2030 and 2040. Drawing on the forward-looking scenarios developed as part of the OPENVERSE project and related European initiatives, leading experts from industry, research and public policy will discuss the technological, societal, economic and governance challenges that will shape the next generation of virtual environments. 

• Moderator: Gianluca Misuraca (Inspiring Futures)
• Speakers: Pierre Rossel (Inspiring Futures), Camille Donegan​ (Eirmersive), Patricia Pons Tomas (ITI Valencia), Kathrine Fremming (Khora)​, Matthieu Worm (Virtual Worlds Association)​

11:30–11:45 | Coffee Break & Exhibition 

11:45–12:30 | SESSION 2: Virtual Worlds standardisation
As Virtual Worlds continue to evolve into critical infrastructures for Europe’s digital future, interoperability, accessibility, trust, and standardisation become essential enablers of adoption and innovation. This session will present the latest findings and strategic developments shaping the standardisation landscape, while showcasing mature OPENVERSE assets that can support future ecosystem growth. 

• Moderator: John Favaro (Trust-IT Services)
• Speakers: Christoph Runde (Virtual Dimension Center)​, Alina Kadlubsky (Open AR Cloud Europe)​, Luis Bravo Martin​s (XRSI Europe)

12:30 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch & Exhibition 

• Trust-IT Services, Changefied

14:00-15:00 | SESSION 3: OPENVERSE legacy
This fully OPENVERSE session will showcase the project’s key assets, achievements, and enduring legacy, highlighting mature technologies, knowledge resources, and community-driven outcomes that can support the future development of virtual worlds in Europe. Through contributions from project partners, the session will present the OPENVERSE technological framework, the Virtual Worlds Observatory, and the Collective Intelligence Wiki, while exploring pathways for the long-term sustainability, adoption, and impact of project results. The session will also present the Co-Creation Toolkit developed through the project, showcasing how participatory approaches can drive innovation in Virtual Worlds.

• Moderator: Lapo Fioretti (IDC)​
• Speakers: Venere Ferraro (Politecnico di Milano)​, Ilaria Mariani (Politecnico di Milano)​, John Favaro (Trust-IT Services), Francesco Panella (Martel Innovate), Lukasz Porwol (University of Galway, Insight Centre)

15:00-15:15 | Coffee Break & Exhibition 

15:15-16:00 | SESSION 4: The Role of SMEs in Shaping Open, Sovereign Virtual Worlds
The Role of SMEs in Shaping Open, Sovereign Virtual Worlds explores how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can act as key innovation drivers within open and sovereign Virtual World ecosystems. Through an introductory presentation by a consortium partner, followed by a panel discussion, the session will examine the opportunities, challenges, and contributions of SMEs in building interoperable and sustainable virtual environments. An interactive exchange with the audience will foster dialogue and gather insights, with the goal of producing SME-led strategic recommendations and concrete proposals to strengthen the ecosystem. The session is intended for SMEs and industry stakeholders interested in the future development of Virtual Worlds. 

• Moderator: Michael Barngrover (XR4Europe)​
• Speakers: ​Sébastien Nahon (XR Wallonia)​, Alexandra Gerard (UnitedXR Europe)​, Tim van Dam (Changefied)​, David Lähner (Mindport)

16:00-16:45 | SESSION 5: Sustainable Innovation in Virtual Worlds
This session explores sustainability as a strategic priority for the Virtual Worlds ecosystem, building on the foresight findings of D2.3. Through a series of cross-sector lightning talks featuring SME representatives from the Observatory, the session will address the central question of how businesses can remain sustainable while operating and growing in virtual worlds. Aimed at policymakers and SMEs, the discussion is expected to generate practical sustainability pathways for businesses and provide policy-relevant insights to support green digital transitions. 

• Moderator: Lukasz Porwol (University of Galway, Insight Centre)
• Speakers: ​Sonya Seddarasan ​(XR Crowd), Stephan Sorkin​ (German Association for Virtual Reality), Alina Kadlubsky​ (Open AR Cloud Europe), Linda Ricci Jacobs (Virtual World Society & Independent Industry Leadership)

16:45 – 17:30 | SESSION 6: Ethical Virtual Worlds
As immersive technologies become increasingly embedded in education, culture, and communication, ensuring that virtual worlds are developed responsibly is a growing priority. This session explores how ethical foresight, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector collaboration can help shape inclusive, trustworthy, and human-centered virtual environments. 

• Moderator: Arno Laeven (The Lisbon Council)
• Speakers: ​Luis Bravo Martin​s (XRSI Europe)​, Abdoul Benamer​ (i-Oasis), Sonya Seddarasan ​(XR Crowd), ​Pilar Orero​ (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

17:30 – 18:00 | Networking Reception & Exhibition Finale

Attending from a European Virtual World

Alongside the physical event in Brussels, OPENVERSE partner XR4Europe is producing and hosting a parallel virtual event in collaboration with partners from across the European virtual worlds ecosystem. This will allow participants from anywhere in Europe and beyond to attend remotely, engage with the Summit programme and connect with other participants in an immersive environment.

The virtual event will be hosted on ENGAGE, a European virtual worlds platform. This format facilitates enhanced geographic accessibility to the Summit while demonstrating how European virtual worlds technologies can facilitate participation, collaboration and cross-border events.

More information on virtual attendance and separate registration can be found here.

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