Towards The Next Technological Transition─The Commission Presents The EU Strategy Of Four Pillars To Lead On Web 4.0 And Virtual Worlds
Image By Courtesy of EU Commission
Strasbourg, July 2023 : The Commission has adopted a new strategy on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds to steer the next technological transition and ensure an open, secure, trustworthy, fair and inclusive digital environment for EU citizens, businesses and public administrations.
The internet is evolving at an extremely fast pace. Beyond the currently developing third generation of the internet, Web 3.0, whose main features are openness, decentralisation, and user full empowerment, the next generation, Web 4.0, will allow an integration between digital and real objects and environments, and enhanced interactions between humans and machines.
The outlook of the EU economy beyond 2030, published in March, highlights digitalisation as one of its key drivers and Web 4.0 as a major technological transition bringing a seamlessly interconnected, intelligent and immersive world.
The global virtual worlds market size is estimated to grow from €27 billion in 2022 to over €800 billion by 2030. Virtual worlds will impact the way people live together, bringing both opportunities and risks that need to be addressed.
The new strategy aims for a Web 4.0 and virtual worlds reflecting EU values and principles, where people's rights fully apply and where European businesses can thrive.
“The Web 4.0 and virtual worlds will bring benefits for health, contribute to the green transition and better anticipate natural disasters. But we need to have people at the centre and shape it according to our EU digital rights and principles, to address the risks regarding privacy or disinformation. We want to make sure Web 4.0 becomes an open, secure, trustworthy, fair and inclusive digital environment for all.” Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age - 11/07/2023
“The recommendations of the European Citizens’ Panel on Virtual Worlds have had a determining impact on the outcome of this initiative that is adopted by the Commission today. I am so glad that the work we have done to deepen citizens’ engagement, and to make it meaningful for our work, is bearing such fruitful results. When we said: “The Future is in Your Hands”, we meant it! Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President for Democracy and Demography - 11/07/2023
“Today, Europe throws its hat in the ring to become a world leader in Web 4.0 and virtual worlds. Europe has what it takes to lead the next technological transition: innovative start-ups, rich creative content and industrial applications, a strong role as a global standard-setter, and an innovation-friendly and predictable legal framework. We will take this competitive edge to the next level and connect virtual world developers with industry users, invest in the uptake and scale-up of new technologies, and give people the tools and the skills to safely and confidently use virtual worlds.” Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market - 11/07/2023
Key Strategy Pillars
The strategy is in line with the 2030 objectives of the Digital Decade policy programme and three of its key pillars of digitalisation: skills, business and public services.
The fourth pillar, infrastructures, is addressed by the Commission's connectivity package and its broader efforts on computing, cloud and edge capacities.
It also addresses the openness and global governance of virtual worlds and Web 4.0 as a specific strands of action.
1. Empowering People And Reinforcing Skills To Foster Awareness, Access To Trustworthy Information And Build A Talent Pool Of Virtual World Specialists.
By the end of 2023, the Commission will promote the guiding principles for virtual worlds, put forward by the Citizens' Panel; and will develop guidance for the general public thanks to a ‘Citizen toolbox' by the first quarter of 2024. As specialists on virtual worlds are essential, the Commission will work with Member States to set up a talent pipeline and will support skills development, including for women and girls, through projects funded by the Digital Europe Programme, and for creators of digital content through the Creative Europe programme.
2. Business: Supporting A European Web 4.0 Industrial Ecosystem To Scale Up Excellence And Address Fragmentation.
Currently, there is no EU ecosystem bringing together the different players of the value chain of virtual worlds and Web 4.0. The Commission has proposed a candidate Partnership on Virtual Worlds under Horizon Europe, possibly starting 2025, to foster excellence in research and develop an industrial and technological roadmap for virtual worlds. To foster innovation, the Commission will also support EU creators and media companies to test new creation tools, bring together developers and industrial users, and work with Member States to develop regulatory sandboxes for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds.
3. Government: Supporting Societal Progress And Virtual Public Services To Leverage The Opportunities Virtual Worlds Can Offer.
The EU is already investing in major initiatives, such as Destination Earth (DestinE), Local Digital Twins for smart communities, or the European Digital Twin of the Ocean to allow researchers to advance science, industries to develop precision applications and public authorities to make informed public-policy decisions. The Commission is launching two new public flagships: “CitiVerse”, an immersive urban environment that can be used for city planning and management; and a European Virtual Human Twin, which will replicate the human body to support clinical decisions and personal treatment.
4. Shaping Global Standards For Open And Interoperable Virtual Worlds And Web 4.0
Ensuring That They Will Not Be Dominated By A Few Big Players. The Commission will engage with internet governance stakeholders around the world and will promote Web 4.0 standards in line with the EU's vision and values.
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The bespoke piece features hand-drawn self-portraits of nearly 800 members of his team, making it a truly unique tribute to one of Britain's most celebrated designers.
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With its distinctive silver finish and subtle sheen, the fabric is positioned as a premium material for designers and makers operating across both industries.
2555 Dimout features a smooth silver surface that lends itself naturally to elegant occasionwear, flowing garments, and bold statement pieces.
Its fluid drape and refined aesthetic make it particularly well-suited to summer collections, where lightness and visual impact are equally valued.
Oswestry – Shropshire – August 2026 - Fujifilm Ink, the UK-based global supplier of UV inkjet technology, has strengthened its partnership with China Print Supplies UK Ltd (CPS), becoming the recognised ink supplier for the company's range of Dlican UV printing systems.
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Visitors can find the swissQprint UK team at Stand P420, where they will have the opportunity to experience the company's latest flatbed printing technology firsthand.
Paris, France – August 2026 – Optitex and NedGraphics will present their integrated design and manufacturing solutions at Première Vision Paris, taking place from 1st to 3rd September 2026 at Parc des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte, France.
Visitors can find the companies at Booth 3L11 in Hall 3, Smart Creation Area.
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The course, Fiery Specialty Production 301 v1: Colour Management Basics in Digital Factory, is now available on Fiery's learning platform at no cost.
Geretsried, Bavaria, August 2026 – RUDOLF, a leading textile chemistry company, has announced the launch of its Summer Campaign, a dedicated series exploring advanced finishing technologies designed to enhance the performance, comfort, and protection of swimwear and summer apparel.
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Frankfurt, Germany – August 2026 – Heimtextil, the world's leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, has announced the launch of the Italian Lounge, a dedicated exhibition space celebrating Italian craftsmanship at its 2027 edition.
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Pembrokeshire, Wales – August 2026 – National Weaving, a family-owned textile manufacturer with nearly four decades of experience, was honoured to receive a visit from HRH The Princess Royal, President of the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), at its Pembrokeshire facility.
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PHILADELPHIA – July 2026 – PRINTING United Alliance, in partnership with The Foundation for Graphic Communication Education (The FGCE), continues to expand its popular Student Day experience at PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place Thursday, September 24, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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Dublin, Ireland – July 2026 – digitalprint.ie, Ireland's trusted supplier of wide format printing equipment and media, has completed the delivery and installation of two Epson SureColor S9100 printers to long-standing customer iGraphic, based in Newtownards.
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Arhus – Denmark – July 2026 – Mikkelsen Innovation ApS has announced that its FASTSEWN™ 3.3M has been named the recipient of the 2026 Pinnacle Award in the Technology category by PRINTING United Alliance.
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Barbieri electronics is strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for its next phase of development.
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Altrincham – Cheshire – July 2026 - Friedmans Ltd and Funki Fabrics have announced the arrival of new print designs, expanding their existing collection with a fresh range of trend-led prints available across a broad selection of premium fabric bases.
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London, UK – July 2026 – The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) has announced its participation at two of Asia's most prominent textile trade events: Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics (25–27 August 2026) and CINTE Techtextil China (1–3 September 2026).
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Kufstein – Austria – July 2026 – Zimmer Austria will exhibit at CAITME 2026, the Central Asian International Textile Machinery Exhibition, taking place from 8 to 10 September 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
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