11/12/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 11 December, the European Commission launched the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds, an alliance bringing together industry, researchers and users to support European research and innovation in this sector. This initiative aims to make the EU a global player in immersive technologies. Forecasts predict that the market will grow exponentially, from €27 billion in 2022 to more than €800 billion by 2030. Signed with the Virtual Worlds Association, launched in 2025 jointly by industry and academia, this partnership will benefit from €200 million from the Horizon Europe programme between 2025 and 2027, supplemented by an equivalent amount from private partners. The aim is to structure the European ecosystem, encourage standardisation, skills development and the adoption of these technologies. (IS)