Our second open call has wrapped up, and while we await the results, we wanted to share some insights. SERMAS OC2 DEMONSTRATE aimed to push the boundaries by funding innovative AR/VR/XR sub-projects. This round invited fresh ideas from new industries and domains beyond those explored in the SERMAS pilots.

We encouraged applicants to take the cutting-edge XR technologies from the SERMAS Toolkit and reimagine them within their chosen fields, aligning with the vision of their proposed projects. The focus was on applying these innovations to one or more key areas: training, services, and guidance.

Here’s a look at the results: We had over 100 applications initiated in our pipeline (a big thank you to all the innovators who applied!). A total of 81 entities submitted applications. Greece took the lead with 13 applications, followed closely by Italy with 10, and Portugal rounding out the top three with seven applications.

In terms of domains, healthcare came out on top, representing 31% of submissions. Manufacturing, Education, and Cultural Heritage were tied, each with 19%. As for the sectors, training and services were neck and neck, with 39% and 36% of applications, respectively.

We’re in the final stages of selecting our winners—stay tuned!