FUNDACION VIRTUALWARE LABS

Their core work

Fundación Virtualware Labs is a Basque Country-based foundation specializing in virtual reality, serious games, and immersive technology development. They contribute VR/AR and gamification solutions as a third-party technology provider across diverse EU projects — from elderly care and ADHD management to waste awareness and cultural heritage visualization. Their role is consistently that of a specialist technology supplier, injecting immersive digital tools into projects led by others.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Virtualware Labs entered H2020 in 2015 with health-oriented applications (elderly independent living) and environmental tools (waste management). By 2016-2017, their focus shifted toward cultural heritage digitization, urban regeneration, and socially inclusive design — reflected in keywords like "co-design," "social inclusion," and "CH accessibility." The progression shows a move from assistive health technology toward broader civic and cultural applications of immersive tech.

Moving from healthcare VR applications toward cultural heritage digitization and socially inclusive urban technology — positioning themselves where immersive tech meets civic engagement.

How they like to work

Virtualware Labs operates exclusively as a third-party contributor, meaning they are brought in by direct project partners to provide specific technology components rather than shaping project direction. Despite this indirect role, they have connected with 84 unique partners across 18 countries, indicating they are a trusted and widely known specialist supplier. This is a low-risk collaboration partner: they deliver defined technology components without competing for project leadership.

Despite participating only as a third party, they have touched 84 unique consortium partners across 18 countries, suggesting strong visibility in the European immersive technology community. Their reach is pan-European with no obvious geographic concentration beyond their Spanish base.

What sets them apart

Virtualware Labs occupies a niche as a foundation (not a commercial SME) providing VR and gamification technology across socially impactful domains — health, education, environment, and heritage. Their consistent third-party role means they are a plug-in technology provider: you bring domain expertise, they bring the immersive tech. For consortium builders needing a Spanish VR/serious-games partner with proven EU project experience across multiple sectors, they are a ready-made fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• FocusLocus
  Directly combines serious gaming with ADHD management for educational achievement — a clear showcase of Virtualware's core gamification capabilities applied to a specific clinical need.
• ROCK
  Addresses cultural heritage regeneration in cities with co-design and accessibility themes, representing their most recent thematic direction and broadest societal scope.