Extended Reality: France as a leading “start-up nation” in the metaverse – France’s ambitions and 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, intended as an alternative to the existing offerings of large international technology companies like Meta. This project was a key component 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 emphasized the importance of the metaverse for future technological and economic development. With the creation of a "European metaverse," France aimed not only to counter the dominance of American and Asian tech giants but also to uphold European values of openness, security, and data privacy. Macron stressed: "Europe must assert its digital sovereignty and set standards that reflect our ethical and cultural principles."
In 2023, the French government further developed this vision with a survey initiated by the Ministry of the Economy. The aim was to capture the opinions and expectations of citizens, businesses, research institutions, and associations regarding immersive virtual universes. This survey marked an important step towards a national strategy for the metaverse, one that would consider not only technological but also economic and cultural aspects.
Europe's strategy for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds
Parallel to France's efforts, the European Commission published a comprehensive strategy for Web 4.0 and virtual worlds in July 2023. This strategy aims to guide the transition to a new technological era in which virtual worlds will play an increasingly important role. The EU strategy focuses 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 linked to this European vision, as both approaches aim to reduce international dependencies and promote European standards.
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Current status: First steps and open questions
Despite the ambitious goals, concrete results in France have so far remained limited. As of mid-2023, no specific pilot projects for a French metaverse had been publicly presented. Nevertheless, Jean-Noël Barrot, Secretary of State 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 field.”
The French government is currently evaluating the results of the national consultation. The collected data will serve as the basis for developing a comprehensive strategy that considers the technological, economic, and cultural dimensions of the metaverse. In particular, the analysis will examine how France can develop independent alternatives to the existing offerings of international technology companies. The focus is on creating platforms that comply with European data protection regulations and ethical standards.
A virtual universe à la Française – Challenges and potential for a French metaverse – Image: Xpert.Digital
However, developing a European metaverse is no easy task. France and the EU face several challenges:
1. Technological dependency
Many of the technologies currently in use, particularly in the areas of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), originate from large international corporations. Significant investment in research and development will be needed to reduce this dependency.
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 funding.
3. Cultural acceptance
While the metaverse already enjoys considerable attention in some countries, such as the USA and South Korea, interest in Europe, particularly in France, is still comparatively low. Targeted educational and communication measures are needed to raise awareness of the metaverse's potential.
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 remaining uncertainties, France's initiative demonstrates a clear commitment to becoming active in the metaverse and establishing its own standards. The national strategy currently being developed could position France as a leader in Europe. Its aim is to develop platforms and technologies characterized by security, interoperability, and cultural diversity.
In close cooperation with the EU, France will continue its efforts to create an alternative model to existing international offers. Finding a balance between economic competitiveness, technological progress, and upholding European values will be crucial.
An ambitious project with an uncertain outcome
France's vision of a European metaverse is undoubtedly ambitious. While concrete projects and results are still pending, the steps taken so far demonstrate France's determination to assume a leading role in this field. The coming years will reveal whether it succeeds in overcoming the technological, economic, and cultural challenges and making the metaverse a success story "Made in Europe.".
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