EC launches the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds
The European Commission has formally launched the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds, a major new initiative designed to consolidate Europe’s leadership in next-generation virtual technologies.
The European Commission has formally launched the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds, a major new initiative designed to consolidate Europe’s leadership in next-generation virtual technologies. The partnership brings together industry, academia, research organisations and end-users to drive coordinated research and innovation across the virtual worlds value chain. The new partnership is a central deliverable of the EU Strategy on Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds, which seeks to ensure that Europe plays a defining role in shaping the technological and ethical foundations of immersive digital environments. The Virtual Worlds Association, comprising 18 founding members, co-signed the partnership with the Commission.
Its launch comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. The global virtual worlds market, valued at €27 billion in 2022, is forecast to exceed €800 billion by 2030, underscoring both the scale of opportunity and the need for coordinated investment.
The European Partnership for Virtual Worlds will support advances in research, innovation, standardisation and skills development, while fostering the uptake of virtual world technologies across multiple application domains. A core objective is to reinforce Europe’s technological autonomy and ensure that future developments respect EU values and fundamental rights. The partnership will be supported by €200 million in EU funding under Horizon Europe for 2025–2027, to be matched by at least €200 million from Virtual Worlds Association members. Together, these investments aim to strengthen Europe’s innovation ecosystem and secure a competitive and values-driven position in the global digital landscape.
BDVA is looking forward to collaborating closely with the VW Association, establishing strong links between data, AI and Virtual Worlds. Our association is also part of OPENVERSE, a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), funded under Horizon Europe programme, rooted in the ambition to elevate the EU landscape, responding to the global tech competition and fostering technological sovereignty. BDVA is helping to connect Europe’s Virtual Worlds ecosystem, having a very active role in the OPENVERSE Community Hub, a dynamic and inclusive network of stakeholders operating at the intersection of Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0, grounded in European values and supported by a framework of ethics and trust.