European Commission Executive to Address Technological Sovereignty at UnitedXR Europe Conference
News related to:UnitedXR Europe · 2 min read
BRUSSELS, Oct. 21, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen will address the future of immersive technology at the UnitedXR Europe conference in Brussels, marking a significant moment for technological sovereignty in Europe. The event, which runs from December 7 to 9, 2026, at Maison de la Poste, aims to bring together key stakeholders in the XR (Extended Reality) industry, including companies, researchers, and policymakers.
Virkkunen, who heads the European Commission's Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy department, will speak on Tuesday, December 8, at 15:00. Her participation underscores the importance of European control over emerging technologies. The conference will also feature a range of speakers from notable organizations such as SPECS by Snap, Google, and Belgium's imec, alongside international delegations from Hong Kong, Portugal, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and four Nordic countries.
The three-day event will explore various aspects of XR technology, including ethics, rights, and social impacts.
The conference will also focus on enterprise use cases, with Matthew Connors from Volvo Group presenting on building XR for business. Other featured speakers include Daniel Wagner from SPECS by Snap, Anne Bajart from the European Commission, Patrick Bourdot from EuroXR, Sean Ginevan from Google, and Prof. Frank Steinicke from the University of Hamburg.
UnitedXR Europe will host the European XR Awards® on Tuesday, December 8, from 18:30 to 20:00 CET on the Main Stage at Maison de la Poste. The awards will celebrate the year's creative work in the XR industry, with nominees across nine categories. The shortlist includes SOLWATA, a mixed-reality experience about rising sea levels in the Solomon Islands, and The Baby Factory is Closed, which explores menopause, identity, and colonial medicine.
Early bird tickets for the conference are available until October 21, with three-day All Access passes priced at €579 and two-day All Access passes at €479, including 21% Belgian VAT. The event promises to be a pivotal moment for the XR community, providing a platform for discussions on technological sovereignty and the future of immersive technology in Europe.