Vicomtech leads the European strategic agenda for the future of Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds

Europe is moving towards a common framework for the development of Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 and has entrusted Vicomtech with coordinating the European Strategic Agenda for Web 4.0. The initiative brings together European companies, technology centres and universities with complementary expertise to identify the technologies and research areas that will shape the evolution of these new digital environments.

Launched in May 2026 and with a planned duration of three years, the project does not aim to develop a specific technology, but rather to align the capabilities of the European scientific and technological community and establish common priorities for the European Commission’s upcoming research and funding programmes.

One of the main objectives will be to define the type of Virtual Worlds that Europe wants to promote. Unlike other digital ecosystems that depend on private platforms, the European Commission is committed to an open, interoperable and secure European ecosystem. In this context, Web 4.0 will act as an enabling infrastructure.

The first version of the strategic agenda is expected in April 2027 and will continue to be updated over the following two years in collaboration with the expert community. Its outcomes will help shape future European research, investment and funding priorities in this field.

For Vicomtech, this Coordination and Support Action (CSA) builds on its track record of applied research in Virtual Worlds, Extended Reality and Web 4.0. Leading the development of this strategic agenda also strengthens Vicomtech’s position within the European ecosystem of Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.

At the same time, the initiative will enable the technology centre to bring future research and innovation opportunities in this field closer to the Basque technology ecosystem and facilitate its participation in European working groups.