MASTER project proves the value of XR in manufacturing training
After more than three years of research, development, and collaboration across Europe, the EU-funded MASTER project (Mixed Reality Ecosystem for Teaching Robotics in Manufacturing) has reached its conclusion, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of immersive technologies applied to industry.
Co-funded under the Horizon Europe programme, MASTER was launched in 2023 to advance robotics training in manufacturing by integrating Extended Reality (XR).
The project brought together a diverse consortium of research centres, industrial stakeholders and technology providers, including organisations such as DFKI, LMS (University of Patras), Tekniker, MLAKOOP and other European partners, to develop an XR ecosystem aimed at transforming the way industrial skills are developed.
Within this ecosystem, Virtualware contributed through its enterprise XR platform, enabling the deployment, management and scaling of immersive training scenarios across different environments, building on more than 20 years of experience applying immersive technologies in industrial contexts.
XR is set to create a new paradigm in training, bringing people closer to complex industrial systems in a safe and accessible way. The real challenge in industrial environments has been, moving from ‘it works’ to ‘it is useful’. — Panagiotis Karagiannis, Master Project Coordinator, University of Patras.
Manufacturing remains a cornerstone of the European economy while undergoing rapid transformation driven by Industry 4.0 and 5.0. In this context, MASTER addressed a critical challenge: preparing the workforce for increasingly automated environments where human-robot collaboration is essential.
To tackle this, the project focused on creating immersive and interactive training environments that enable safer, more flexible, and accessible learning. These environments allow users to simulate real industrial scenarios, experiment with robotic systems, and develop skills without the risks associated with physical operations.
MASTER has moved beyond into real-world validation. The project engaged a broad ecosystem of more than 90 organisations, enabling the development of over 40 XR initiatives through its Open Calls, and validated its approach through real-user testing with students, engineers and industrial operators.
“At Virtualware, our focus in MASTER has been to help bridge the gap between technological innovation and real industrial application. By bringing XR into operational environments, we have contributed to turning experimental developments into scalable training solutions aligned with real industry needs.”
— Maria Madarieta, R&D at Virtualware.
About MASTER
MASTER enhances robotics training in manufacturing with its open XR platform. It integrates key functionalities, creating safe and flexible robotic environments with advanced interaction mechanisms.
The project delivers rich training content and invites third-party contributions through two Open Calls.
MASTER – Mixed reality ecosystem for teaching robotics in manufacturing
About Virtualware
Founded in 2004, Virtualware is one of the leading companies in enterprise software based on immersive and 3D technologies for industrial and educational environments.
The company serves global organizations and institutions such as GE Vernova, NextStar Energy, Volvo, ADIF, Bosch, Fill Machine Engineering, the Spanish Ministry of Defense, NATO, Ohio University, Lethbridge Polytechnic and the University of El Salvador.
Virtualware is headquartered in Bilbao, Spain, with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Sweden.
