Bridging Europe’s Digital Skills Gap Through XR Education
The Virtual Innovation Consortium (VIC) is an EU-backed initiative tackling the advanced digital skills gap by focusing on Extended Reality (XR)—including Augmented and Virtual Reality. The project brings together universities, research institutions, VET providers, and industry leaders to deliver cutting-edge training in immersive technologies.
Dr. Òscar Garcia-Pañella, ENTI-UB, part of VIC, held a stakeholders’ meeting with the recently opened XRLAB in Palo Alto, Barcelona on 26 September.
Barcelona XRLAB is a technological and creative production center located in the 22@ District. Located in a building of more than 2,000 square meters, the Barcelona XRLAB is the first economic activity hub for the creative industries in the city, bringing together initiatives, companies and professions in the sphere of extended reality (XR) technologies.
The VIC Project was presented at AI&Me: Living with AI, Robots & Metaverse, an experiential conference organized by UNINT – Università degli Studi Internazionali di Roma – during Rome Future Week. The event explored how artificial intelligence, social robotics, and immersive technologies (AR/VR/MR) are reshaping the way we communicate, learn, work, and live, bringing together international academics, researchers, industry experts, and institutions for talks and interactive demonstrations with humanoid robots, petbots, and virtual environments.
We’re excited to share the interview of Dr. Maria Mateeva Kazakova (RAS institute) with Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, where she highlights VIC’s goals and accomplishments.
VIC Conference 2025: Unlocking the Power of XR Across Sectors
Immersive technologies such as Virtual and Augmented Reality are no longer confined to gaming or high-tech labs. Today, they are transforming healthcare, education, cultural heritage, architecture, design, entertainment, and industry.
On October 29th, 2025, in Lisbon (and also online), the VIC Conference 2025 will show how anyone — regardless of background — can learn to build and apply XR solutions, integrate them into daily practice, and use them as a powerful tool for enhancing work, upskilling, and reskilling.
This recognition reflects the shared vision and commitment of our partners to push the boundaries of what immersive technologies can achieve for society and the economy.
Virtual Innovation Consortium to Launch with Kick-Off Event in Lisbon and Online Press Conference
Lisbon, Portugal — October 2025
The Virtual Innovation Consortium is proud to announce the official launch of its ambitious project aimed at accelerating the application of immersive technologies across a wide range of sectors. The kick-off event will take place in Lisbon, bringing together key partners, stakeholders, and industry leaders to initiate collaborative efforts and set the stage for impactful innovation.
