Virtual Worlds Café on "XR in Healthcare" in Amsterdam

On April21, between 9:00am and 1:00pm, the ERTRAG project and the VWA are co-organizing an in-person focus group session on XR applications in healthcare. This is part of the “Virtual Worlds Café”-series of events to gather stakeholder input.

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Location

Jupiter Lisboa Hotel

Registration form

Location

Stryker Acute care

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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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The event brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, RTOs and industry stakeholders to explore XR deployment in clinical settings. Parallel focus groups will address:

Resilient Healthcare: Strengthening resources with XR in healthcare for resilient organizations and staff
XR Deployment: Bringing XR to the OR and nursing, deployment strategies in healthcare
XR meets Robotics: Brainstorm session on converging technologies
Human-Technology-Organization: Social sciences (MTO) approaches in XR development

Results will feed into VWA policy work and may be used to inform future papers, and the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

Time and Place: Tuesday, April 21 2026, 9:00–13:00, Stryker, Herikerbergweg 145, 1101 CN Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Tentative agenda for the event:

09:00 Welcome and Warm-up
10:00 VWA Presentation
10:20 Parallel Focus Groups (4 topics, moderated by associated partners)
11:20 Summary of Focus Group Results in Plenary
11:35 Coffee Break and Demos
12:15 Wrap-up, Closing Round, Photo and Video
13:00 Adjourn (optional lunch, self-pay)

This event is hosted at Stryker in Amsterdam as part of the German BMFTR EuKoNet-project ERTRAG (on Extended Reality for the Transformation of Work in the Healthcare Sector) with its associated partners from Amsterdam Skills Centre, The University of Nottingham, University of Oulu, and TalTech.

Seats are limited: Registration confirmation on first-come-first-served basis.
Participation in this VWA Focus Group Workshop is free. Registration is managed by the VWA.

Thank you!

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Registration form

Location

Jupiter Lisboa Hotel

Registration form

Pitch Template

Download here

Registration form

Location

Stryker Acute care