VR glasses that can be used to diagnose Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s at an early stage so that treatment can be started sooner? What is the state of the art and which applications are already being used by individuals? The Metaverse Congress in Stuttgart is the first time in Germany that the topic will be fully focused on at a regional level.

 

The Workshop Lighthouses from the Danube Region in the fields of Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse & Virtual Worlds

as part of the EUSDR PA 8 Study Identification of lighthouse projects in the Danube region

will showcase projects from the EU Danube Region Strategy, which will also provide impetus for Baden-Württemberg and make visible in what ways the application of new technologies can benefit the competitiveness of enterprises. The Danube Region Strategy includes countries alongside the Danube near and far: from Baden-Württemberg to the Black Sea.

 

The projects were selected as part of a study commissioned by Priority Area 8 of the EU Danube Region Strategy, which is being implemented by Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, Pannon Business Network (Hungary) and the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The study aims to make lighthouse projects in the Danube region more visible and thus contribute to the exchange of best practice in many respects.

 

During the workshop, three representatives from selected projects will present their findings and then discuss with you what constitutes effective use of AI and metaverse applications. The projects will also be awarded certificates as part of the study. We cordially invite you to a pinch of internationalization for your afternoon program of the congress “Virtual Worlds – Experiencing Opportunities in the Metaverse”!

 

The following projects in the Metaverse application field will be presented as part of the workshop:

• Speaker 1: Andrej Gero, Gametherapy, VIRADIA Neurological Examination Tool, Slovakia
• Speaker 2: Dr. Krisztina Bárdos, GTE/Operator 4.0, Industry 5.0 Lab, Hungary
• Speaker 3: Daniel Copot, ITC Murska Sobota, DIH Agrifood Demonstration Farms, Slovenia

 

VIRADIA Neurological Examination tool, Slovakia

GAMETHERAPY is a Slovakian start-up pioneering the development of therapeutic applications in virtual reality (VR). Its mission is to use immersive technologies to improve mental health, rehabilitation and neurological diagnostics, making therapeutic applications not only effective, but also visually compelling, emotionally engaging and enjoyable to use.
The flagship product, ClaustrOFF, is a VR application designed to help people overcome anxiety and claustrophobia by gradually exposing them to challenging scenarios in a safe, playful environment. The application is currently being tested with university students and health experts.
The VIRADIA tool, a state-of-the-art VR diagnostic platform for the early detection of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis, is also currently being developed. VIRADIA integrates standardized clinical tests into a virtual environment and uses AI models to analyze and interpret user data. The aim is to create an accessible tool for remote diagnosis and home monitoring – particularly valuable in ageing societies and underserved regions.
The overall vision: to contribute to the use of the metaverse for health in an interactive, interoperable environment.

 

GTE/Operator 4.0 / 5.0, Hungary

As manufacturing systems evolve towards greater digital integration, the role of human operators is once again coming to the forefront—this time not as passive participants, but as central, empowered contributors. In recent years, targeted initiatives have emerged to explore how the principles of human-centricity can be embedded into everyday industrial environments. One such initiative involved a national-level survey to assess how companies approach operator involvement, digital maturity, and the use of support technologies. Paralell,  a dedicated Operator 5.0 test environment within a didactic factory has been set up, serving as a space for experimentation with human-robot collaboration and practical deployment of assistive technologies. Currently, there are ongoing efforts to extend this model to other European regions—among them North Rhine-Westphalia—through strategic dialogues and participation in intergovernmental frameworks that aim to strengthen cross-border innovation and shared learning.

 

DIH Agrifood Demonstration Farms, Slovenia

Join us for an inspiring 15-minute dive into the future of farming, where data becomes the new soil. Discover how DEMO farms are transforming into real-life testbeds for digital solutions—proving grounds where innovation meets practicality. You will learn the importance of interconnected apps and data-driven tools enabling informed, timely, and sustainable decisions. We’ll explore how embracing the data economy is not just a trend but a necessity for resilient and sustainable agriculture. DEMO farms are more than showcases — they are lighthouses of change, accelerating the digital transformation of our food systems.

 

 

Agenda:

13.00: Introduction by moderation and greetings by EUSDR Priority Area 8
Balázs Barta, Pannon Business Network and Coordinator PA 8 Working Group Artificial Intelligence
and Carmen Hawkins, Coordinator EUSDR Priority Area 8 Competitiveness of Enterprises
13.05: Presentation of the Priority Area 8 Identification of Lighthouse Projects Study
Robin Schenk, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
13.15: Danube Region Lighthouses in Digitalization, AI, Metaverse and Virtual Worlds
Speaker 1: Andrej Gero, Gametherapy, Slovakia – VIRADIA Neurological Examination tool
Speaker 2: Dr. Krisztina Bárdos, Hungary – GTE/Operator 4.0 / 5.0
Speaker 3: Daniel Copot, ITC Murska Sobota, Slovenia – DIH Agrifood Demonstration Farms
14.10: Panel discussion with the speakers and audience questions
Moderation: Balázs Barta
14.25: Closing words and handing out certificates “EUSDR Priority Area 8 Lighthouse”
by EUSDR Priority Area 8
14.30: End of Workshop

 

• Registration:

Link for events in Business Lounge of Porsche Arena (European Networking Lunch, Workshop Lighthouse Projects)

https://danube-region.eu/eusdr-priority-area-8_2025-05-08/