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The metaverse could contribute an additional \u20ac259-\u20ac489 billion per year to the EU\u2019s GDP by 2035, according to research commissioned this year by Meta and produced by Deloitte. Today, we\u2019re sharing the stories of European businesses and institutions that are using these immersive technologies and the tangible impact they\u2019re having, from immersive education and training to new possibilities in healthcare and the workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n Imagine if doctors could practice surgery in a realistic, risk-free way \u2013 with virtual reality (VR) that\u2019s already possible and happening today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the forefront of this work are companies like <\/span>Medicalholodeck<\/span><\/a> which <\/span>allows medical professionals, educators and students to visualise, edit, and discuss human dissections, and 3D human anatomy while training in a fully immersive digital environment. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe students have the ability to much better prepare for the practical exercises. More than 90% of the students have reported to us that the presentation in 3D clearly outweighs those of a classic atlas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 Philipp Feodorovici, Resident in Thoracic Surgery at the University Hospital in Bonn (UKB) and CTO at Bonn Surgical Technology Center (BOSTER)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In France, <\/span>AVATAR MEDICAL<\/span><\/a>, a spin-off from the Institut Curie and Institut Pasteur, two leading research centers in the world, developed software that transforms medical images from scanners and MRIs into three-dimensional virtual reality representations. <\/span>Virtual Medicine<\/span><\/a> from Slovakia delivers an immersive experience of over 13,000 anatomical structures designed for students, medical and nursing schools, and universities, which is used in more than 180 countries globally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Training for surgeons and medical education are just two of the many applications in this space. French company, <\/span>HypnoVR<\/span><\/a>, developed a software that helps patients manage stress and anxiety, which is used in over 400 hospitals across Europe and has already benefited over 100,000 patients. In Poland, <\/span>Unicorn VR World<\/span><\/a> offers an immersive gaming project for students with special education needs, while Czech company <\/span>Kaleido<\/span><\/a> develops virtual experiences for retirement homes and hospitals which are used for activation therapy and cognitive training.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Metaverse technologies are transforming many areas of education, creating new ways to inspire and learn. A <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> by PwC found that 40% of VR learners are more confident in applying what they\u2019ve been taught, and 150% more engaged during classes. The <\/span>XR Association<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>International Society for Technology in Education<\/span><\/a> found that 77% of educators believe immersive technologies ignite curiosity and improve engagement in class. European companies are right at the forefront of this development<\/span><\/p>\n GoStudent<\/span><\/a>, European EdTech unicorn, offers an immersive language learning platform, and thanks to virtual reality transports students to far off places that simulate real-life situations. Higher education institutions and universities are also gradually adopting immersive technologies. In Spain, renowned business school <\/span>Esade<\/span><\/a> partnered with virtual reality developers <\/span>Extendra<\/span><\/a>, and opened a virtual replica of their campus so that students can attend classes remotely.<\/span><\/p>\n For <\/span>TARGO<\/span><\/a>, an Emmy<\/span>-nominated documentary studio from France, virtual reality is the ultimate media capable of bringing viewers inside stories. With their documentary about Notre-Dame, developed after the fire in 2019, they managed to virtually reopen the cathedral to visitors for cultural exploration. In Poland, VRHeroes, VR production studio,\u00a0 immerses students in historical experiences and in collaboration with Meta and the National Research Institute (<\/span>NASK<\/span><\/a>), they launched a series of workshops for teachers on how to use augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in their classrooms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The metaverse technologies can also bolster empathy, as exemplified by <\/span>Kiin<\/span><\/a>, which offers immersive<\/span> diversity and inclusion training. Its users can experience how different interventions, for example microaggressions, can be perceived on the receiving end, teaching empathy and inclusivity in an immersive and tangible way that\u2019s not possible during traditional courses.<\/span><\/p>\n European industry leaders, such as <\/span>Lufthansa<\/span><\/a>, are using immersive technologies in product development, as a way to engage customers and in employee training. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAirplane seats are expensive if you have to make them available in a large quantity at different locations. In order to train employees on these seats or to present them to customers worldwide, it is very helpful to be able to do this also in a virtual space\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 <\/span><\/i>Bjoern Becker, Head of Program Future Intercont Experience, Lufthansa<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Alstom<\/span><\/a>, a global leader in sustainable mobility solutions, utilizes immersive technologies like virtual and augmented reality to enhance training, design, and maintenance processes for its rail transportation solutions. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>We do not expose employees to real risks in these virtual worlds and the impact on memory is much more significant than under more traditional training conditions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 Frank Gaillard, Global Learning Director at Alstom<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Similar benefits are experienced by the automotive company <\/span>IVECO<\/span><\/a>, which introduced an immersive safety training developed by <\/span>Xperiencia Virtual<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>We have reduced training times by 75%, improved the efficiency of training through neuroscience by 93%, we have increased worker satisfaction by 84%, and above all, factory workers take the culture of safety home with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 Marta Gonz\u00e1lez responsible for the Environment, Health & Safety at the IVECO Valladolid Plant<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nHealthcare<\/h2>\n
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