On 4 June 2026, the XR Futures Conference 2026: “Education, Innovation and Industry in Europe” brought together an inspiring community of educators, researchers, industry leaders, innovators, students, and XR professionals at FORUM Factory in Berlin.

Organised by the Virtual Innovation Consortium (VIC), the full-day conference provided a dynamic platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration focused on the future of Extended Reality (XR) and its growing role in skills development, education, research, and industry across Europe.

Throughout the event, participants explored how immersive technologies are transforming the way we learn, work, innovate, and collaborate. Discussions highlighted both the rapid evolution of XR technologies and the importance of strengthening connections between academia and industry to ensure Europe remains at the forefront of digital innovation.

Conference Highlights

Bridging Academia and Industry in XR

An engaging session focused on skills development, innovation pathways, and the progress of the VIC project, demonstrating how collaborative ecosystems can accelerate XR adoption and talent development across Europe.

Gamification, Serious Games & Motivational Design

Experts shared valuable insights into the power of game-based learning, immersive engagement strategies, and the ways XR technologies can create more effective and meaningful educational experiences.

European XR Trends and Challenges

Discussions led by Youbiquo explored emerging XR trends, current challenges, and the development of a common European framework to support sustainable growth and innovation across the XR ecosystem.

Open-Source XR Innovation

MindPort GmbH showcased VR Builder, highlighting how open-source XR platforms can empower research institutions, educators, and industrial organisations to scale immersive projects more efficiently.

Virtual Reality for Business Transformation

Invelon Technologies presented real-world examples of how virtual reality is creating value across industries by driving operational improvements, advancing training solutions, and supporting digital transformation initiatives.

The conference reinforced the importance of collaboration across sectors and demonstrated the significant potential of XR technologies to shape the future of education, workforce development, and industry innovation in Europe.