Metaverse Policy Brief 12.09

On the EU's digital twin of Earth, the video games sector's response to Europe's strategy, The Economist's all-in on digital twins, and events to look out for in the rest of the year

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Sep 12, 2024

Hello! Welcome back to the Metaverse Policy Brief, in which we provide updates on metaverse-related policy, business, and events in the EU while keeping an eye on global developments.

🇪🇺 EU Metaverse Policy

EU Institutions

🏢 European Commission

As part of its goal to reach 20 million ICT specialists by 2030, the EU has opened a €55 million funding call for education programmes specialised in “critical digital areas” including virtual worlds.
The Commission’s Joint Research Centre is hiring a Researcher in Digital Anthropology (Virtual Worlds). Deadline to apply: 19 September.
The long-awaited Draghi report on the future of European Competitiveness hit the shelves this week. There was little mention of virtual worlds (boo) but digital twins got a brief nod.
The Commission’s Destination Earth initiative, which uses supercomputers to create accurate models of Earth to study the effects of climate change, launched its first two digital twins.

🏛️ Member States

Finland is pushing ahead with its Metaverse Strategy, launched at the end of 2024: DIMECC received funding to coordinate the strategy’s Metaverse In Action programmes.

🔄 Around the Bloc

Video Games Europe published its response to the Commission’s consultation on competition in generative AI and virtual worlds—the trade body warns of restrictive regulation, encourages the EU to support the trend towards greater interoperability, and cites the sectors’ significant contribution to the development of virtual worlds.
XR4Human, an EU-funded project creating a code of conduct for Immersive Technology, created a digital avatar, Lisa, to communicate the project’s plans.

🌐 Global Corner

This section comes with the help of Metaverse EU’s anonymous contributor

Policy

🌍 The World Economic Forum published an article, Metaverse interoperability is essential. How will regulation play a part? Read more.

🇺🇸 The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation published a report, ITIF paper on AR/VR Kids safety, advising parents, developers, and regulators how to keep children safe in immersive spaces. Read more.

🇬🇧 Will the Online Safety Act help protect children in the metaverse?, asks a research project by the University of East London and Middlesex University. Read more.

🇨🇳 Metaverse expected to rapidly grow within China, according to Hurun Report. Read more.

🇬🇧 A school in London is opening the UK's first classroom entirely taught by AI and deploying immersive technologies like VR. Read more.

🇺🇸 Politico US’ Derek Robertson took stock of how US regulators are approaching child safety in the metaverse. Read more.

🇰🇷 South Korean authorities approved an implementation decree for the country’s metaverse industry promotion act. Read more.

🇺🇸 University of Miami deploys metaverse technology to bring students from Miami and India together. Read more.

Business

The Economist ran a special feature on digital twins:
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Digital twins are fast becoming part of everyday life
⚙️ Digital twins are making companies more efficient
🏎️ Digital twins are speeding up manufacturing
🧠 Digital twins are enabling scientific innovation

🌍 The Business Research Company published Metaverse in Education Global Market Report 2024. Read more.

🇬🇧 Manchester City Football Club is hiring a Senior Metaverse Manager to identify new growth opportunities for the club—the club’s previous growth opportunities include failing to disclose accurate financial information to the Premier League (allegedly). Read more.

🇰🇷🇺🇸 Rumours swirl that Microsoft is reigniting its “mixed reality” interest, reportedly striking a deal with Samsung to build a new device. Read more.

🇬🇧 The Premier League announced its first VR game, which aims to allow fans to relive iconic moments from the perspective of the players. Read more.

Events

16 Sept Towards networked Local Digital Twins in the EU (online)
24 Sept Open Discussion on Metaverse Ethics (Brussels 🇧🇪)
25 – 26 Sept Meta Connect (online)
27 – 29 Sept VR Summit (Germany 🇩🇪)
08 – 10 Oct Merge Madrid (Madrid 🇪🇸)
23 – 24 Oct NEM Summit (Brussels 🇧🇪)
29 – 30 Oct AWE EU 2024 (Vienna 🇦🇹)
06 – 08 Nov Nordic VR Forum 2024 (Hamar 🇳🇴)
19 Nov Match XR (Helsinki 🇫🇮)
23 Nov DescubreXR (Madrid 🇪🇸)
04 – 06 Dec Immersive Tech Week (Rotterdam 🇳🇱)
09 – 11 Dec Stereopsia (Brussels 🇧🇪)