Lusofona university Joins the Virtual Worlds Association (VWA) as an Institutional Member

Lusofona university has reached an important milestone by officially joining the Virtual Worlds Association (VWA) as an Institutional Member, reinforcing its strong commitment to higher education, research, media and arts, and international collaboration in the field of virtual worlds and immersive technologies.

As Portugal’s largest private university, Universidade Lusófona is now part of a growing European and international network that brings together industry, SMEs, universities, and research organisations to accelerate the development and adoption of virtual worlds.

Founded in 2025, the Virtual Worlds Association is a European international non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering cutting-edge research, promoting interoperability, supporting training and knowledge dissemination, and contributing to the development of ethical, sustainable, and human-centred immersive technologies across Europe.

This membership comes at a particularly significant moment for the sector. The Virtual Worlds Association has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Commission, formally launching the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds under the Horizon Europe framework. Approved by the Association’s Extraordinary General Assembly, this agreement establishes a multiannual roadmap based on the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and aligned with the European Union’s vision for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds. The partnership aims to accelerate research, innovation, skills development, and real-world adoption of virtual worlds throughout Europe.

Universidade Lusófona looks forward to contributing actively to this initiative through education, research, and creative practices, while engaging in joint actions that promote more interoperable, inclusive, and human-centred virtual worlds.

The University thanks the Virtual Worlds Association for the warm welcome and looks forward to a productive and impactful collaboration.