EuroXR Welcomes the Launch of the Virtual Worlds Association (VWA)
VIRTUAL WORLD ASSOCIATION - VWA
EuroXR Welcomes the Launch of the Virtual Worlds Association
The EuroXR Association is pleased to celebrate the official launch of the Virtual Worlds Association (VWA), a new European initiative that unites industry, academia, and startups to strengthen Europe’s position as a global leader in Virtual Worlds.
Co-founded and led by 18 organizations across Europe, the VWA acts as a strategic partner of the European Commission, contributing to the implementation of the EU Strategy on Virtual Worlds. This initiative aims to ensure an open, secure, fair, and inclusive digital future for Europe.
A Shared European Vision
The Virtual Worlds Association is jointly driven by industry and academia, working as a non-profit organization to develop a collaborative ecosystem that supports innovation and excellence in Virtual Worlds technologies.
The association focuses on several key areas:
Immersive technologies and extended reality (XR)
Digital twins and virtual collaborative spaces
Interoperability and open standards
Digital skills and talent development
By bringing together European stakeholders, the VWA acts as a bridge between research and industry, encouraging collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy dialogue to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty.
Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
In June 2025, the VWA will release its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), a key document defining the main research priorities, challenges, and expected impacts for Europe’s Virtual Worlds industry.
This agenda will guide future collaboration between research centers, industry, and policymakers, aligning efforts across technology, socio-economic impact, and governance.
Upcoming Activities
The VWA will take part in major European innovation events, including:
📍 KIKK Festival — June 20, 2025, Namur (Belgium)
📍 NEM Summit — October 21, 2025, Berlin (Germany)
These gatherings will foster dialogue and help build a strong, connected European community around Virtual Worlds and immersive technologies.
EuroXR’s Proud Contribution
At EuroXR, we are proud to see four members of our Advisory Board directly involved in this important new association:
Mariano Luis Alcañiz Raya, Kaj Helin, Marco Sacco, and Krzysztof Walczak.
Their participation reinforces the close connection between EuroXR and the Virtual Worlds Association, and reflects our shared mission to advance European excellence in immersive technologies, research, and innovation.
Looking Ahead
The creation of the Virtual Worlds Association represents a major step forward in building a sustainable and collaborative ecosystem for Virtual Worlds in Europe.
EuroXR fully supports this effort and looks forward to continued collaboration to shape the future of immersive technologies together.
🔗 Learn more about the association: https://www.virtualworldsassociation.eu/
