Official brokerage event for Horizon Europe draws over 400 participants

The online event brought together more than 400 participants from academia, industry, research centres and innovation ecosystems across Europe and associated countries. Attendees had the opportunity to gain insights into the call’s objectives and engage in structured networking to facilitate consortium building and project partnerships.

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Location

Jupiter Lisboa Hotel

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Pitch Template

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Introduction

Virtual Worlds, solving real world problemsVirtual Worlds (VW) represent a transformative convergence of physical and digital realities, creatingimmersive environments where users can interact, work, learn and play in unprecedented ways. ThisStrategic Research and Innovation Agenda identifies the required foundational concepts andtechnological advancements driving VW, highlighting their potential to revolutionise various sectors,including industry, entertainment, education, and commerce. By examining the interplay betweenAugmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), or Mixed Reality (MR) and other emerging technologies likeDigital Twins (DT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of VWs'prospects and associated research and innovation gaps. A deeper exploration of VWs' impact on societyand the economy gives context to the application and technology perspectives.VW are persistent, immersive environments, based on technologies including 3D and extended reality(XR), which make it possible to blend physical and digital worlds in real-time, for a variety of purposessuch as designing, making simulations, collaborating, learning, socialising, carrying out transactions orproviding entertainment1. They encompass a wide range of digital experiences, from fully i

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On 3 February 2026, the Virtual Worlds Association (VWA), in collaboration with the European Commission, hosted the official brokerage event for the HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-01 call under Horizon Europe, dedicated to developing and demonstrating foundational technologies for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0. The online event brought together more than 400 participants from academia, industry, research centres and innovation ecosystems across Europe and associated countries. Attendees had the opportunity to gain insights into the call’s objectives and engage in structured networking to facilitate consortium building and project partnerships. A highlight of the brokerage session was the pitching programme, organised in breakout sessions, where over 30 pitches were delivered in parallel. These short presentations enabled organisations to showcase ideas, expertise and collaboration interests, sparking dynamic exchanges and laying the groundwork for future joint proposals. Aligned with European Commission priorities to strengthen research and innovation in emerging digital technologies and support the competitiveness of the European Virtual Worlds ecosystem, the event underscored the growing collective interest in advancing immersive technologies, digital environments and Web 4.0 infrastructures. The Virtual Worlds Association thanks all participants and partners for their active engagement and looks forward to supporting next steps in transforming these initial connections into high-impact Horizon Europe project collaborations.

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Registration form

Pitch Template

Download here

Registration form

Location

Jupiter Lisboa Hotel

Official brokerage event for Horizon Europe draws over 400 participants

Introduction

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