Extended Reality: France as a leading “start-up nation” in the Metaverse – France’s ambitions and the current status – Image: Xpert.Digital
Digital sovereignty in Europe: Where is the promised metaverse 'Made in France'?
What is the status of France's ambitious Metaverse project?
In 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced ambitious plans to create a European Metaverse that would serve as an alternative to the existing offerings of large international technology groups such as Meta. This project was a central part of his efforts to establish France as a leading “start-up nation” and strengthen Europe's digital sovereignty. But what is the current status of this initiative? What has been achieved so far and what challenges still lie ahead?
The Beginning: France's Vision of a European Metaverse
In 2022, President Macron highlighted the importance of the Metaverse for future technological and economic development. By creating a “European metaverse”, France not only wanted to respond to the dominance of American and Asian technology giants, but also to take into account European values of openness, security and data protection. Macron emphasized: “Europe must assert its digital sovereignty and set standards that correspond to our ethical and cultural principles.”
In 2023, the French government made this vision more concrete with a survey initiated by the Ministry of Economy. The aim was to capture the opinions and expectations of citizens, companies, research institutions and associations regarding immersive virtual universes. This survey marked an important step towards a national strategy for the Metaverse that should take into account not only technological, but also economic and cultural aspects.
Europe's strategy for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds
In parallel to France's efforts, the European Commission published a comprehensive strategy for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds in July 2023. This aims to manage the transition to a new technological era in which virtual worlds will play an increasingly important role. The EU strategy is based on creating an open, secure and fair digital ecosystem that meets the needs of citizens, businesses and public administrations. France's Metaverse initiative is closely related to this European vision, as both approaches aim to reduce international dependencies and promote European standards.
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The current status: First steps and open questions
Despite the ambitious goals, concrete results in France have so far remained manageable. As of mid-2023, no specific pilot projects for a French metaverse have been publicly presented. Nevertheless, Jean-Noël Barrot, State Secretary for Digital Transformation and Telecommunications, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “The Metaverse holds immense technological and economic potential. France has the opportunity to take a leading role in this area.”
The French government is currently in the evaluation phase of the national consultation. The data collected will serve as a basis for the development of a comprehensive strategy that takes into account both the technological and the economic and cultural dimensions of the Metaverse. In particular, it is examining how France can develop independent alternatives to the existing offerings of international technology groups. The focus is on creating platforms that comply with European data protection guidelines and ethical standards.
Virtual Universe à la Française – Challenges and Potential for a French Metaverse – Image: Xpert.Digital
However, developing a European metaverse is not an easy undertaking. France and the EU face several challenges:
1. Technological dependence
Many of the technologies currently used, especially in the areas of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), come from large international corporations. A significant investment in research and development will be required to reduce this dependence.
2. Financial resources
Developing a competitive metaverse requires significant financial resources. France will need to mobilize both public and private investors to provide the necessary funds.
3. Cultural acceptance
While the Metaverse is already receiving a lot of attention in some countries such as the USA and South Korea, interest in Europe, particularly in France, is still comparatively low. Targeted education and communication measures are needed to raise awareness of the possibilities of the Metaverse.
At the same time, the metaverse offers enormous potential. It could serve as a platform for innovative business models, create new opportunities in education and entertainment, and revolutionize collaboration between companies, research institutions and governments. France sees this area as an opportunity to set standards not only technologically, but also culturally and economically.
France's future plans
Despite the uncertainties that still exist, France's initiative shows a clear will to become active in the area of the metaverse and to establish its own standards. The national strategy currently in the works could put France in a pioneering role within Europe. The aim is to develop platforms and technologies that are characterized by security, interoperability and cultural diversity.
In collaboration with the EU, France will continue its efforts to create an alternative model to the existing international offerings. It will be crucial to find a balance between economic competitiveness, technological progress and the preservation of European values.
An ambitious project with an open outcome
France's vision of a European metaverse is undoubtedly ambitious. While concrete projects and results are still a long time coming, the steps taken so far show that France is committed to taking a leading role in this area. The coming years will show whether it will be possible to overcome the technological, economic and cultural challenges and make the Metaverse a “Made in Europe” success story.
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