EU Commission launches European Partnership for Virtual Worlds
09/01/2026
Virtual worlds as a key technology for Europe's future
Virtual worlds are persistent, immersive digital environments based on 3D, extended reality (XR) and advanced simulation technologies. They enable new forms of collaboration, learning and innovation and have the potential to fundamentally transform numerous areas of the economy and society – from industry and healthcare to education, culture and the creative industries.
Market analyses predict strong growth: the global market for virtual worlds is expected to grow from around €27 billion (2022) to over €800 billion by 2030. With the new partnership, the EU wants to ensure that Europe plays a leading role in this technological development.
€400 million for research, innovation and implementation
As part of the partnership, the European Commission plans to allocate up to €200 million from the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for research and innovation activities. The members of the Virtual Worlds Association will supplement this with at least another €200 million between 2025 and 2030. This will create a strong public-private partnership for scaling virtual worlds in Europe.
Strong European stakeholder landscape
The Virtual Worlds Association is led by Siemens and brings together 18 founding members from industry and research, including SAP, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, DFKI, imec, CNRS and numerous universities and research centres from across Europe.
This broad base reflects the strength and diversity of the European innovation ecosystem.
Concrete added value for the economy and society
The partnership addresses key areas of application with direct benefits for citizens and businesses:
- Industry & sustainability: Digital twins and virtual prototypes to save costs and resources in production and engineering
- Health & well-being: VR simulations for medical training, surgical planning and rehabilitation
- Education & skills: Interoperable 3D learning environments for schools and universities
- Culture & creative industries: Immersive museum visits, theatre and cultural experiences, and digital preservation of cultural heritage
These activities are accompanied by work on standardisation, qualification, ethical, legal and social issues, sustainability and the governance of Web 4.0.
Further information can be found here.
Get involved now and help shape European innovation
The European Partnership for Virtual Worlds offers Bavarian companies, universities and research institutions concrete opportunities to actively shape future key technologies – from XR and 3D simulations to digital twins and Web 4.0 applications.
Take advantage of the new European funding and cooperation opportunities offered by Horizon Europe and the Public-Private Partnership for Virtual Worlds.
Contribute your project ideas, technologies and use cases and network with strong European partners from industry and research at an early stage.
Position your organisation strategically in a dynamically growing market with high industrial and socio-political relevance.
BayFOR supports you as a one-stop shop for EU research and innovation funding – from strategic classification and partner search to application submission.
Contact us if you are interested in participating or would like to learn more about suitable calls for proposals and participation formats.
Contact at BayFOR
Dr. rer. nat. Panteleïmon Panagiotou
Head of Unit Information & Communication Technologies |
Engineering & Natural Sciences
Phone: +49 89 9901888-130
Email: panagiotou@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org
Competence Centre for Research and Innovation Funding in Bavaria, Europe and the World
Competence Centre for Research and Innovation Funding in Bavaria, Europe and the World
