Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OPENVERSE (OPEN and co-created ViRtual worldS for Europe)
Reporting period: 2023-11-01 to 2025-04-30
Virtual Worlds are emerging as powerful tools for digital interaction, with the potential to reshape how people learn, work, create, and connect. However, much of this development is currently dominated by proprietary platforms that raise concerns around privacy, accessibility, ethics, and the lack of interoperability. The European Union has expressed a clear vision for a Virtual Worlds that are open, human-centric, and aligned with European values such as inclusivity, transparency, sustainability, and technological sovereignty.
The OPENVERSE project is a response to this vision. Funded under Horizon Europe, OPENVERSE aims to lay the groundwork for a European ecosystem of Virtual Worlds that is open, co-created, and future-proof. It brings together researchers, SMEs, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to collaboratively shape the technological, legal, and societal frameworks that can ensure Virtual Worlds are accessible, ethical, and interoperable.
At the core of OPENVERSE is the belief that Europe can lead the next wave of digital transformation by fostering Virtual Worlds that serve public interest and empower users. The project addresses critical challenges such as standardisation, governance, digital rights, and the digital divide—while showcasing real-world applications in industry, robotics, and education. Through extensive engagement with social sciences and humanities, the project explores not just what Virtual Worlds can do, but what they should do to benefit society as a whole.
The OPENVERSE project is a response to this vision. Funded under Horizon Europe, OPENVERSE aims to lay the groundwork for a European ecosystem of Virtual Worlds that is open, co-created, and future-proof. It brings together researchers, SMEs, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to collaboratively shape the technological, legal, and societal frameworks that can ensure Virtual Worlds are accessible, ethical, and interoperable.
At the core of OPENVERSE is the belief that Europe can lead the next wave of digital transformation by fostering Virtual Worlds that serve public interest and empower users. The project addresses critical challenges such as standardisation, governance, digital rights, and the digital divide—while showcasing real-world applications in industry, robotics, and education. Through extensive engagement with social sciences and humanities, the project explores not just what Virtual Worlds can do, but what they should do to benefit society as a whole.
OPENVERSE project made significant progress across several dimensions:
• A comprehensive analysis of 75 Virtual World platforms was conducted to assess their openness, compliance with EU values (e.g. GDPR), user experience, and co-creation potential. A refined list of 8 platforms was selected for co-creation use cases.
• The OPENVERSE Observatory was launched, offering an evolving repository of virtual world technologies, initiatives, and actors across Europe. It serves as a technology watch and knowledge-sharing hub for innovators and stakeholders.
• A scenario-based foresight exercise explored the future of Virtual Worlds in Europe through expert workshops. The results identified key drivers such as generative AI, 6G, blockchain, and immersive experiences and mapped out possible trajectories for 2030 and 2040.
• The first policy brief, based on stakeholder interviews and legal analysis, provided recommendations for empowering European SMEs in cross-border digital markets.
• A foundational report on virtual world trends and IPR models was delivered, including ethical and legal considerations relevant to the development of European virtual spaces.
• A stakeholder engagement methodology was created, drawing on best practices from related projects, to ensure inclusiveness and foster community participation across sectors.
• Several project-led and external events, including workshops and policy dialogues, were held to validate findings and co-create solutions with industry, academia, and civil society.
• A comprehensive analysis of 75 Virtual World platforms was conducted to assess their openness, compliance with EU values (e.g. GDPR), user experience, and co-creation potential. A refined list of 8 platforms was selected for co-creation use cases.
• The OPENVERSE Observatory was launched, offering an evolving repository of virtual world technologies, initiatives, and actors across Europe. It serves as a technology watch and knowledge-sharing hub for innovators and stakeholders.
• A scenario-based foresight exercise explored the future of Virtual Worlds in Europe through expert workshops. The results identified key drivers such as generative AI, 6G, blockchain, and immersive experiences and mapped out possible trajectories for 2030 and 2040.
• The first policy brief, based on stakeholder interviews and legal analysis, provided recommendations for empowering European SMEs in cross-border digital markets.
• A foundational report on virtual world trends and IPR models was delivered, including ethical and legal considerations relevant to the development of European virtual spaces.
• A stakeholder engagement methodology was created, drawing on best practices from related projects, to ensure inclusiveness and foster community participation across sectors.
• Several project-led and external events, including workshops and policy dialogues, were held to validate findings and co-create solutions with industry, academia, and civil society.
OPENVERSE is reevaluating of how Virtual Worlds are conceived and developed in Europe:
• It proposes a European technological framework for Virtual Worlds, combining interoperability, openness, and ethical design—a sharp contrast to the siloed, closed ecosystems often found today.
• The Taxonomy and Project Radar tools offer innovative means to classify and analyse virtual world technologies and actors, supporting the growth of a more transparent and navigable ecosystem.
• The project contributes to shaping industry standards, with key insights feeding into global standardisation bodies and discussions.
• The co-creation approach in OPENVERSE is not just participatory—it’s a proof-of-concept for testing user engagement methodologies in real-time across diverse platforms.
• The integration of foresight and strategic roadmapping ensures that policy and innovation planning are proactive, not reactive, helping to shape Europe’s digital sovereignty.
• Further research and development efforts are being aligned with OPENVERSE outputs, enabling synergies with sister projects, and supporting ongoing discussions on standardisation and funding.
To ensure long-term uptake, OPENVERSE is also developing strategies for sustainability beyond its lifecycle, including potential contributions to public-private partnerships, the integration of its Observatory into larger EU digital infrastructures, and continued collaboration with global initiatives.
• It proposes a European technological framework for Virtual Worlds, combining interoperability, openness, and ethical design—a sharp contrast to the siloed, closed ecosystems often found today.
• The Taxonomy and Project Radar tools offer innovative means to classify and analyse virtual world technologies and actors, supporting the growth of a more transparent and navigable ecosystem.
• The project contributes to shaping industry standards, with key insights feeding into global standardisation bodies and discussions.
• The co-creation approach in OPENVERSE is not just participatory—it’s a proof-of-concept for testing user engagement methodologies in real-time across diverse platforms.
• The integration of foresight and strategic roadmapping ensures that policy and innovation planning are proactive, not reactive, helping to shape Europe’s digital sovereignty.
• Further research and development efforts are being aligned with OPENVERSE outputs, enabling synergies with sister projects, and supporting ongoing discussions on standardisation and funding.
To ensure long-term uptake, OPENVERSE is also developing strategies for sustainability beyond its lifecycle, including potential contributions to public-private partnerships, the integration of its Observatory into larger EU digital infrastructures, and continued collaboration with global initiatives.