NEM Summit 2026 PROGRAM

Collocated with 23rd EuroXR International Conference – EuroXR 2026 – in Valencia, Spain, 3 – 6 November 2026

“The New European Media Landscape: Innovation, Culture and Connectivity“

Opening

Welcome address: Anne Bajart, Deputy Head of EC Unit G.2: Interactive technologies, Digital for Culture & Education
New NEM Initiative Startegy, by NEM Chairs

XR standards : current state and perspectives

Standards are essential to unlock large‑scale adoption of Extended Reality. Without common references, the ecosystem risks fragmentation, with incompatible devices, content that cannot move easily between platforms, and inconsistent user experiences that undermine trust. This session will highlight the current state of XR standardization and future opportunities, illustrated with several ongoing efforts covering both technical foundations and human‑factors‑related activities.

ViWISSO Project, Christoph Runde, affiliation (to be confirmed)
Human Factors standards in XR from ISO and ITU on virtual worlds, Pilar Orero, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
ETSI ISG ARF, building interoperable AR applications anchored to the real world thanks to a reference architecture, open APIs and open source implementations, JérémyLacoche, Orange
Convergence between media and XR – to be confirmed

Capacity-building in media: XR, AI and new training needs for media professionals

Capacity building is a priority in the current fast-evolving media landscape. As emerging technologies reshape media production, distribution, and access, they generate new professional opportunities while simultaneously demanding new and continuously evolving skills. Media professionals are increasingly required not only to master innovative tools, but also to understand their social impact and implications for diverse audiences. In this context, capacity building extends beyond the adaptation of established formal education programmes to include flexible upskilling and reskilling initiatives that foster meaningful collaboration between academia, industry, and society. This session explores how capacity-building strategies can respond to the influence of advanced technologies, such as extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence (AI), and person-centred, inclusive approaches to media creation and accessibility. Attention will be paid to how these developments generate new training needs. By bringing together perspectives from multiple stakeholders, the panel will foster dialogue on effective capacity-building that can equip media professionals with the skills, critical awareness, and adaptability required.

Introduction, Anna Matamala, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona/AccessCat
Capacity-building strategies in immersive media, Fotis Liarokapis, CYENS. VIWAS project – The Virtual Worlds Academy coordinator
New audiences via easy news: identifying and enhancing new skills, Veronika Rot, journalist at RTVSLO and leader of the ENACT project
AI in media: reskilling and upskilling in a fast-evolving landscape, Sarah McDonagh, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, TransMedia Catalonia, ALFIE Project
VOPUS project: Culture and new skills in VW, Ian Biscoe, Transdisciplinary Design Networks/ TransRealities Lab, Design Academy Eindhoven.
Panel and audience discussion

Media technologies for other sectors

The session on Media Technologies for Other Sectors will explore how advanced media technologies are increasingly acting as cross-sectoral enablers beyond traditional media industries. It will highlight applications in domains such as defence, urban innovation, health, and manufactory where AI, XR, and data-driven media are transforming operations and decision-making. The session will emphasise integration, interoperability, and real-world deployment. It will also address strategic dimensions such as European technological sovereignty and resilience. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the discussion aims to identify scalable pathways for cross-sector adoption.

Immersive Media Technologies for Urban Innovation: From Pilots to Real Municipal Deployment, Miguel Ángel Mas, Valencia Municipality Urban Innovation R & D
Immersive, real-time virtual environments for smarter urban futures, speaker, IMEC
Manufacturing/Industry, Giuseppe Amato, CNR-ISTI
Immersive XR technologies and multisensory feedback for upper-limb rehabilitation, Daniele Leonardis, Scuola Superiore Santanna
Digital Sovereignty and the European Games Industry, Malte Behrmann, GISM

The future of Networked media in the 6G context

Opening, Pierre-Yves Danet, 6G-IA
SNS JU Work Programme 2027, Pierre-Yves Danet, 6G-IA
SNS JU projects and related Media & Entertainment use cases
- IMAGINE-B5G, 6G-PATH, UNICO I+D; David Gómez-Barquero (UPV)
- 6G-XR, 6G-BRICKS, SUNRISE-6G, UNICO I+D; Mario Montagud Climent, i2CAT
The INCLUDE project and Euro-3C Initiative, Halid Hrasnica, Eurescom
Roundtable with speakers and audience

Arts, Culture and Heritage

Open Call for Contributions

Present your research & connect with EC initiatives at NEM Summit 2026!

Are you driving innovation at the intersection of technology, culture, and creativity? We want to hear from you!

The upcoming NEM Summit 2026, themed “The New European Media Landscape: Innovation, Culture and Connectivity,” is officially launching an open call for research projects to feature in our special session: “Arts, Culture and Heritage”.

We are looking to select guest speakers to showcase groundbreaking initiatives and research projects that address the core pillars of our conference.

🌟 A Unique Opportunity for Your Project

By participating, you will:

Highlight your research on a prestigious European stage.
Network with key professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders.
Learn and connect with other EC-funded projects and initiatives, sparking opportunities for future collaboration.

📋 Evaluation Criteria

To ensure a high-impact session, applications will be evaluated based on:

Relevance: Direct alignment with the topics of both the special session and the overarching summit theme.
Novelty: We prioritize fresh voices and insights. Preference will be given to speakers and projects that have not been presented at previous editions of the NEM Summit.
Maturity of Results: While we welcome inspiring work-in-progress initiatives, preference will be given to presentations that can showcase concrete results, data, or outcomes.

Timeline:

Application Deadline: August 15, 2026
Speakers Announced: September 10, 2026

👉 Click Here to Apply [link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/9fd5d619-d1f4-03ee-b9f1-969969f6fd91]