Metaverse Policy Brief 21 March
Welcome to our first policy brief of 2025!
Earlier this year, we attended another meeting of the VR/AR Industrial Coalition where we discussed the future of Virtual Worlds policy and the European Commission’s plans for a new European Partnership on the topic.
While things are currently quiet on the EU policy front, plenty is happening in research and industry with new headsets on the horizon and researchers continuing to explore the possibilities of VR.
🇪🇺 EU Metaverse Policy
The OECD published an immersive technologies policy primer, analysing the possibilities of immersive tech while emphasising the critical role of anticipatory governance and international collaboration in shaping a human-centric and values-based approach towards them.
The European Commission published a report it commissioned on the use of emerging technologies in the public sector. It provides an overview and analysis of the adoption status of Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and technologies such as Augmented and Virtual reality, Virtual Worlds and Quantum computing.
The CitiVerse European Digital Innovation Consortium (EDIC) launched in Valencia.
The European Commission gave Apple an order to open up its devices ecosystem. Citing the DMA, the Commission's order states it aims to ensure “effective interoperability about connected physical devices, such as smart watches, headsets, and other connected physical devices.”
In a joint research project, the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design together with the Goethe Institute explored the metaverse’s impact on higher education and cultural sectors to understand current perceptions, potential applications and future challenges of this emerging technology. “Making Sense of the Metaverse: A Cultural and Educational Perspective.”
📈 Business
The launch of Samsung's high-end VR and mixed reality headset is planned for Q3 2025 with a shipment target of 100k units, suggesting a steep price tag.
Dassault Systèmes announced the world’s first guide for the medical device industry that outlines how to use virtual twins to accelerate clinical trials.
French football club Paris Saint-Germain announced a partnership with US broadcaster beIN SPORTS to offer fans the opportunity to watch games in VR.
🗺️ Around the World
⚕️ Digital twins show huge potential for the healthcare sector but how representative is the technology when it comes to gender and identity? A recently published research paper explores this question by analysing how digital twins could be effectively used for trans persons in healthcare.
🇺🇸 Scientists at the Ohio State University (OSU) invented a device called e-Taste that allows users to taste things without actually eating them.
🇦🇺 A study led by Charles Sturt University analysed the challenges in policing the metaverse and produced concrete recommendations for policymakers and law-enforcement agencies to improve safety in virtual worlds.
🇹🇻 Tuvalu: The disappearing island nation recreating itself in the metaverse.
🇬🇧 NHS pilot uses virtual reality to tackle racism and discrimination among staff.
🇨🇭 The World Economic Forum’s Metaverse Working Group published the milestone report of the governance track of its Defining and Building the Metaverse Initiative, Shared Commitments in a Blended Reality: Advancing Governance in the Future Internet.
Events
26 – 27 Mar XR Expo (Stuttgart 🇩🇪)
31 Mar – 01 Apr High Level Conference on Governance for Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds (Brussels 🇧🇪)
09 – 11 Apr Laval Virtual (Laval 🇫🇷)
11 - 12 Jun 2nd UN Virtual Worlds Day (Turin 🇮🇹)
11 - 12 Jun II International Congress Metaverse for the Good (Alicante 🇪🇸)
(Call for submissions open until 18 April!)25 – 27 Jun International XR-Metaverse Conference (Maastricht 🇳🇱)
09 – 11 Jul 11th International Conference on Virtual Reality (Wageningen 🇳🇱)
08 – 10 Dec United XR Europe (Brussels 🇧🇪)
(Call for speakers open until 15 July!)