Women in xr-2 visual

Takeways from our “Women in XR” webinar

Celebrating Women in XR: Insights from a powerful webinar

 

On March 19th, 2025, in celebration of International Women’s Rights Day, we hosted a dynamic and insightful webinar titled “Women in XR.” The event brought together six remarkable women specialists from across the extended reality landscape, offering their unique perspectives on navigating and thriving in a predominantly male field. The webinar was a  success, drawing 81 participants eager to learn from these inspiring leaders.

The panelists shared their personal journeys, career highlights, and the challenges they’ve encountered, offering invaluable advice and sparking needed conversations about gender diversity in XR. Here are some key takeaways and powerful quotes from our esteemed speakers:

 

Building Networks and Overcoming Challenges:

Moonisa Ahsan emphasized the importance of community, stating: “Try to find your network, try to find your community. You have all the power and capacity to do it alone, but you don’t need to do it. Reach out to your mentors and mentees and look out for them, ask questions and get comfortable with rejection is part of the process, you need to accept it.” She also highlighted the diverse opportunities within XR: “Opportunities in XR are endless, pursue what you are good at. Technology is not the only way. You can work on the hardware, support the team, work on the legal aspects (…). You pick your only skillset. Look on what you are good at, focus on that and it will be your superpower”.

Marievi Xezonaki encouraged aspiring women in the field: “Do not be afraid to enter this challenging field, quite male dominated, don’t be afraid. Prepare yourself and change your mindset to believe in you. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. It doesn’t help to promote yourself in the field. Trust yourself and the pace you are progressing.” She also touched upon the mental barriers women face: “Because we don’t see many women in leadership in this field, this starts to be a mental barrier, they start to doubt themselves and they start to think they need to put in so much effort to prove themselves compared to a man in the same industry.

 

The Need for Allies and Representation:

Regina van Tongeren echoed the sentiment of mental barriers and the need for systemic change: “It is sometimes a mental barrier, but what can we do to fix that? I’m a mom, I have a daughter, I need to do something, maybe it is the education system that needs to change.” She powerfully stated, “We need allies to get there, representation is very important to have, to see and to inspire. We need role models.” Looking towards the future, Regina called for tangible action: “For change tomorrow I would like to wish: make teams really more diverse. We need more diverse people in boardrooms. Give the boardrooms keys out to as many people as possible to make teams more diverse.. And the payment gap still exists, it’s happening on an European level. There are more steps being taken to minimize the gap, but it’s still there and it’s not changing fast enough”.

 

Breaking the Mold and Embracing Individuality:

Georgia Papaioanou offered a strong message of self-belief: “You don’t have to fit the mold have to break it. Challenge yourself. I always tell myself that imposter syndrome is a distraction, then there will always be people that will think that you don’t know as much as you do, you need to prove them wrong.

 

Prioritizing Diversity from the Outset:

Grace Dinan emphasized the importance of integrating diversity and inclusion early in project development: “Diversity and inclusion should be a priority from the very beginning of the projects. Right at the proposal stage when choosing. You have a different range of partners to begin with, you have different opinions, mindsets, abilities so you get the best from your project. A lot of times, it can be something you can fix midway to a project, like a tickbox where you put a woman to a panel just to fit in., but it needs to start from the beginning, thinking about accessibility for everyone.

 

The Power of Role Models and Mentorship:

Maria Madarieta highlighted the impact of visible role models: “The references are very important, the women reference for example teachers at the school. To let them know that is possible. We should raise awareness, we are mentors, look “I’m doing this, it’s possible”. This way we can break the barriers and inspire”.

 

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs and Addressing Societal Perceptions:

Megha Quamara suggested concrete ways to support women in XR: “I think programmes and XR initiatives to have dedicated spaces to women entrepreneurs, offering training programmes, technical guidance, how to apply for funding and tech related contributions. Additionally, introducing small changes and flexibility to help on the family side would be great to support careers.” She also addressed ingrained societal biases: “There’s societal perception about a man being related to the tech field and this is something that stops women or makes them doubt themselves. But we also need to talk about the failures. We can’t always talk about the cases where we see names driving in the community. You need to keep in mind that you can’t feel success without failure”.

 

The Value of Diverse Perspectives:

Leesa Joyce underscored the unique contributions women bring to the field: “We talked about hard skills, as we can be as talented as the other gender, but talking about the other side we can bring another world of perspective. We can give a different perspective from the man that’s already there.

This webinar served as a powerful reminder of the talent, resilience, and perspectives that women bring to the XR industry. The insights shared by these incredible panelists offer valuable guidance for aspiring professionals, highlight the ongoing challenges, and inspire us all to work towards a more inclusive and equitable future for women in XR.

Women in XR website photo

Coming up: Women in XR webinar

Inspiring the Next Generation: A Women in XR Webinar

The XR field might be booming, but it’s no secret that women are still underrepresented in this otherwise innovative space. To address this gap and celebrate the amazing contributions of women in XR, we’re thrilled to announce an upcoming webinar: Women in XR: Sharing Experiences, Inspiring Futures.

What to Expect:

This webinar will bring together a panel of 6 inspiring women working in EU-funded XR projects, including XR2Learn, SERMAS, CORTEX2… Through a dynamic panel discussion and open Q&A, we’ll delve into their journeys, explore the challenges and opportunities for women in XR, and discuss how we can collectively foster a more inclusive and diverse field.

Panel Discussion

Each panelist will share their journey in XR and discuss specific topics, guided by the moderator

Audience Q&A 

Open the floor for live questions from attendees or collect questions in advance

 

Topics  for the Panel

Personal Journey & Experiences

Industry & Gender Diversity

Future of Women in XR

  1.  

Mark your calendars!

  • Date: 19. March 2025
  • Time: 11.30 AM CET 
  • Duration: 60-90 minutes

 

Register now!


REGISTER HERE

oplus_1048576

Recap: Brussels event “Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 initiative, related research and innovation topics, future priorities”

Last week in Brussels

“The Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 initiative, related research and innovation topics and future priorities” brought together key players in the field to discuss the future of this exciting domain on the 11th February, 2025.

The event saw active participation from a diverse range of projects, all part of a cluster of XRrelated projects financed under H2020 and Horizon Europe.

A day of restricted, but also public sessions in the realm of XR

Firstly, the morning session focused on internal discussions among project representatives, providing a platform to delve into the core aspects of the Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 initiative. Participants explored related research and innovation topics, such as Research strengths and weaknesses in EU and Research gaps, and collaboratively outlined future priorities for the field. 

Then, the afternoon session broadened its scope (welcoming members of the VUAS VRAR Industrial Coalition as observers). Attendees gained valuable insights into the goals and achievements of the various participating projects and clusters through presentations, followed by engaging panel discussions. These panels facilitated a rich exchange of ideas concerning research priorities, potential synergies, and opportunities for collaboration.

The meeting fostered a dynamic environment for knowledge sharing and strategic planning, setting the stage for continued progress in the realm of Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0. It was a productive week for all involved!

Projects inviolved: TRANSMIXR, XReco, Max-R, #EMIL, XR4Human Project, SUN, ShareSpace, DIDYMOS-XR Project, THEIA-XR, OPENVERSE, Popular, XTREME, Luminous, Presence, Heat, INDUX-R, XR2Industry, XR5.0 Project, MotivateXR, CORTEX2 , Spirit, Master, XR2Learn, XR4ED, AdMiRe, Arete, eTryOn Project, HoviTron, PrismArch, and VR2Care.

XR2LEARN OC2 analysis

XR2Learn Open Call 2: Mapping the Applicants: Where They Come From and Where They’re Going

Open Call 2 applications: who are they?

The project’s Open Call 2, that ran between  , closed with a total of 147 applications from all over Europe. The following deep-dive into of the applicants provides valuable insights into the geographic origins, target markets, and valuation of the SMEs that applied. The target audiences were small consortia of up to three partners consisting of XR-developing industrial partners, training organizations and XR-application user/adopters.

Countries of origin

A large number of countries were covered, thanks to dissemination efforts in getting participants from eligible countries. So, this Open Call received proposals from 14 eligible countries. Greece (20,5%), Italy (14,5%), Germany (9,6%), Spain (8,4%), France (7,2%), Turkey (7,2%), were the 6 most represented countries. 

SME’s ages

The objective of the Open Call #2 is to perform test, piloting, evaluate and validate the user acceptance of new or already developed XR-based applications in real life settings. In consequence, SME’s from various ages, with 69,2% of the companies being 10 years or less. 

Raising capital

Regarding scaling-up, it turns out that only 16.8% of the SMEs applying to the open call were actively seeking investment at the time of application. This suggests that a significant portion of applicants may be seeking other forms of support, such as access to markets, mentorship, or technology partnerships, to scale their businesses. 

Valuation

The valuation of the applicant SMEs revealed a diverse landscape. A significant portion (35.3%) were valued between 1 and 4 million, indicating a focus on early-stage growth. While 17.6% command a valuation between 20 and 25 million, suggesting more mature and potentially higher-growth companies.
11.8% of the applicants were valued at less than a million, highlighting the presence of early-stage ventures seeking initial traction.
The remaining valuations were distributed across 5-9 million (11.8%), 10-14 million (11.8%), and 15-19 million (11.8%), showcasing a range of company stages and growth trajectories within the applicant pool.

Markets 

We can see a range of target markets for the applicant SMEs. Software emerged as the most prominent one, with 31.6% of applicants targeting this sector. XR technologies followed closely with 16.4%, reflecting the core focus of the XR2Learn project. Education and healthcare count as significant markets, with 13.2% and 11.8% of applicants respectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D applications were also well-represented. Finally, a smaller part of the application focused on data-related solutions, and on blockchain, indicating the growing importance of data-driven approaches and emerging technologies within the XR2Learn ecosystem.

NB: With respect to the targeted sectors, a minimum of 70% will be dedicated to XR-application relevant to industry 5.0 technologies and relevant skills and a maximum of 30% will be allocated to sub-projects targeting other educational sectors (e.g. healthcare and medical, manufacturing, construction and engineering.

Gender balance

 
The applicant SMEs revealed a significant gender imbalance across leadership and employee levels, as it tends to be the case overall in the ecosystem. Overall, 80.7% of applicants were male-led, while 19.3% were female-led. This disparity was reflected at the leadership level, with 81.5% of CEO positions held by men. While a slightly higher percentage of women were observed in co-founder roles (20.7%), male co-founders still constituted a majority (79.3%). Finally, the employee level also exhibited a similar gender imbalance, with 81.3% of employees being male.

 

  • Learn More: Visit our website for detailed information: XR2Learn Website.
  • Join the Conversation: Connect with experts and peers on the XR2Learn Forum: Visit Forum.
XR2Learn Team group photo

XR2Learn Exploitation Workshop: Empowering Open Call 1 Winners to Unlock Their Potential

On November 28th, XR2Learn hosted an engaging Exploitation Workshop for the winners of its Open Call 1. The event brought together seven outstanding projects—CARATE, EVR-OSH-5, PAPERXR, PROXIMA, X-ALFY, XR2IND, and XR4HRC—each pushing the boundaries of XR-based solutions in education and training.

The workshop, conducted virtually, focused on helping participants refine their project vision by identifying their target customers, understanding customer pain points, defining the unique value of their solutions, and positioning themselves in the competitive landscape. To foster collaboration and creativity, the session utilized an interactive Miro Board, with breakout rooms, ensuring personalized guidance for each team.

Diving into the Essentials of Exploitation

The core of the workshop revolved around several critical elements that contribute to the success of any innovation:

  1. Target Customers: Teams were guided to identify their key customers—the individuals or organisations experiencing the problem their solution aims to address. Participants brainstormed their target audiences and narrowed them to the most crucial segment.
  2. Customer Problems: Once customers were identified, teams stepped into their shoes to explore challenges from the customer’s perspective. This exercise emphasised understanding real-world needs and building solutions that resonate.
  3. Customer Values: The discussion then shifted to what matters most to the customer. Teams reflected on the unique benefits their projects could bring and how their solutions could alleviate pain points or improve efficiency.
  4. Investment Worthiness: Participants were encouraged to think like investors, articulating why their projects are worth backing and how they align with business goals and KPIs.
  5. Competitive Landscape: Teams analysed their competitors and considered what sets their solutions apart, helping them better define their unique positioning in the market.

Crafting the Unique Value Proposition

The highlight of the workshop was the creation of a Unique Value Proposition (UVP) statement—a concise and compelling expression of each project’s core value. Using a simple sentence structure, participants distilled their ideas into statements that clearly communicated their offerings and their relevance to their target customers.

For example, one UVP might look like this:
“Our [product/service] helps [customer segment] who want to [goal or job to be done] by [addressing a pain point] and [delivering a specific benefit].”

This exercise helped teams articulate not only what they offer but also how their solutions uniquely address their customers’ needs.

Closing the Workshop

To conclude, each team presented their UVP statement to the group, showcasing their progress and insights. This activity highlighted the diversity of ideas and approaches among the projects, while reinforcing the importance of clarity and customer focus.

Looking Ahead

The XR2Learn Exploitation Workshop was a resounding success, equipping participants with tools and strategies to maximize the impact of their XR-based solutions. As the projects evolve, we look forward to seeing how these insights shape their journeys, helping them bring their innovative ideas to life in education and training.

Stay tuned for more updates on the incredible projects coming out of the XR2Learn program!

XR2LEARN Open Call #2 launched: Join the European XR industry technologies to empower immersive learning and training!

XR2LEARN Open Call #2 launched: Join the European XR industry technologies to empower immersive learning and training!

We are proud to share that LS Group, one of the partners in the XR2Learn project, presented our innovative project at VivaTech 2024, held from May 22-25 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. VivaTech, Europe’s largest startup and technology event, is a vibrant annual conference dedicated to innovation and startups, bringing together visionaries from around the globe.

XR2Learn Shines at VivaTech 2024 with LS Group

XR2Learn Shines at VivaTech 2024 with LS Group

We are proud to share that LS Group, one of the partners in the XR2Learn project, presented our innovative project at VivaTech 2024, held from May 22-25 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. VivaTech, Europe’s largest startup and technology event, is a vibrant annual conference dedicated to innovation and startups, bringing together visionaries from around the globe.

Meet the winners of the XR2Learn Open Call 1: EVR-OSH project

Meet the winners of the XR2Learn Open Call 1: EVR-OSH project

Meet the dynamic team behind EVR-OSH – Zengo, a burgeoning force in VR and educational content development, and TopSafe, a prominent figure in occupational health and safety. With a combined experience spanning over a decade, these two entities have joined forces to embark on an ambitious journey within the XR2Learn project. Their shared mission? To revolutionise traditional learning paradigms through immersive technologies. Let’s delve into their story, aspirations, and the exciting project they’re bringing to the table.

Meet the winners of the CR2Learn Open Call 1: X-Alfy project!

Meet the winners of the CR2Learn Open Call 1: X-Alfy project!

Meet the visionary team behind X-Alfy: VENAKA TreeLeaf GbR (VTG). In this exclusive interview, VTG shares insights into their groundbreaking project, X-Alfy, which aims to provide advanced XR tools for forestry education and environmental awareness. Discover how X-Alfy evolved from VTG’s passion for addressing climate change challenges and how it’s poised to benefit end-users by enhancing forestry practices and fostering environmental consciousness.