WHO IS EUROPEAN XR?
MAPPING EUROPE’S PLACE IN THE GLOBAL IMMERSIVE ECOSYSTEM

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Tue November 10, 2026 05:00 pm CET

Europe’s immersive ecosystem spans research institutions, companies, creators, communities, national initiatives, and regional hubs. But these actors increasingly operate in an international marketplace where European, national, institutional, and commercial identities overlap.

From UnitedXR Europe to MIT Reality Hack, European stakeholders participate in global business, research, investment, and innovation forums. They lead economic missions, build commercial relationships, enter new markets, form research partnerships, and represent European expertise far beyond Europe’s borders.

This conversation maps Europe’s place within that global XR landscape. Who represents European voices in these international settings, and what perspectives are they bringing with them? How do European companies, researchers, institutions, and networks position themselves alongside strong national identities and institutional interests?

Ultimately, the session explores how Europe is perceived, represented, and positioned internationally, and what role a stronger European dimension can play in global XR markets and communities.

Format

Panel Discussion

App

RAUM

Location

Scaramanga

Duration

45 min

Access via

Presenter

Alexandra GERARD
Co-director, Co-founder at UnitedXR Europe

Alexandra GERARD is Co-Founder and Co-Director of UnitedXR, one of the biggest international XR event in Europe, taking place yearly in Brussels. Launched in January 2025 through a joint venture between Stereopsia and AWE, UnitedXR builds on the legacy of Stereopsia, Europe’s leading immersive technology event, and continues to serve as a key annual meeting point for the XR sector.

In parallel with her executive role at UnitedXR, Alexandra is a Board Member of XR4Europe, and also serves as Belgian Ambassador for Women in Industries of Tomorrow.

Santeri Saarinen
R&D Manager at Helsinki XR Center

Santeri is the R&D Manager at Helsinki XR Center, Metropolia UAS, with more than 15 years of experience researching topics such as extended reality, mobile solutions, virtual worlds, multimodal interaction and game engines. Santeri is a Vice President of XR4Europe, and the Vice Chair of Management Board for the Metaverse Finland Ecosystem. He also works as an expert reviewer for Horizon Europe and Creative Europe, and is a member of IEEE Standards Association’s Spatial Computing for Metaverse Initiative, Metropolia’s representative for Virtual Worlds Association and AI, Data and Robotics Association, and one of the founding members of VR/AR Industrial Coalition.

Camille Donegan
CEO at Eirmersive
© Kerbute Productions

Camille Donegan is CEO and co-founder of Eirmersive, Ireland’s national XR association, representing over 65 organisations across industry and academia. An immersive technology producer, consultant and advocate, she has over 15 years’ experience spanning the creative industries and emerging technologies. Eirmersive’s mission is to drive the adoption of Irish Immersive Technology solutions across all sectors globally. She is Vice President and Board Director of XR4Europe and a member of Ireland’s Digital Creative Industries Forum, where she champions the needs of the immersive sector and contributes to conversations shaping the future of Ireland’s digital creative economy.

Luke Porwol
Head of e-Gov Unit at University of Galway

Dr. Luke Porwol is an executive leader, researcher, and innovation strategist with nearly two decades of experience in digital innovation and emerging technologies. He is Director of the XR Lab at the University of Galway, a Senior Research Fellow collaborating with the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT), and Head of Sponsorship at MIT Reality Hack.

His work focuses on XR, AI, immersive technologies, and next-generation digital experiences, bridging academia, industry, government, and policy. Luke has led international initiatives, advised organisations and policymakers, and built collaborations connecting technology with business and societal impact.

Moderator

Keith Mellingen
Cluster Manager at VRINN

Keith Mellingen is Cluster Manager of VRINN Immersive Learning Cluster and a board member of XR4Europe. He has worked with VR and AR since 2016, combining ecosystem development with hands-on experience in immersive technology, storytelling and production. Keith is an award-winning VR director and creative AI producer, and currently focuses on the convergence of XR and generative AI for training, content creation and new immersive experiences.

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