Immersive Tech Week 2023, organised by the VRDays Foundation, is thrilled to announce its lineup of top curators who are contributing to build the event’s programme. Join them and their special guests from November 28th to December 1st, 2023, in de Doelen Rotterdam, as they envision the future of XR.

Recognising that immersive technologies are entering a new phase, Immersive Tech Week’s conference programme will center around the themes of Integration, Creativity, and Connectivity.

Top Curators envisioning the future of XR

From November 28 to December 1, 2023, de Doelen in Rotterdam will play host to an inspiring event dedicated to the future of XR technologies, bringing together professionals, researchers, students, artists, creators, and XR enthusiasts from across the globe. Last year’s edition marked a significant milestone in the event’s nine-year history, uniting over 5,000+ XR attendees, speakers, exhibitors, creators, and artists at de Doelen for its first Rotterdam edition. Today, Immersive Tech Week proudly unveils its lineup of top curators, all poised to craft yet another exceptional and inspiring celebration of immersive technologies and its uses.

Karen Palmer is the Storyteller from the Future, an award-winning XR creator and futurist who explores the implications of AI and technology on societal structures. In collaboration with Alex McDowell, an award-winning designer and storyteller, Karen will create an insightful exploration of futurism as activism at Immersive Tech Week. This session aims to foster meaningful discussions and inspire attendees to leverage immersive technologies and storytelling for positive change.

Hsin-Chien Huang, renowned for his pioneering work in integrating cutting-edge technologies with art, literature, design, and stage performance, has been a driving force in interdisciplinary projects and innovative contributions since 1995. During his session, he will be joined by Astrid Kahmke and Francois Klein on stage and Jean-Michel Jarre online to shed light on how immersive technologies can foster dynamic collaborations across borders.

Mel Slater is a Distinguished Investigator at the University of Barcelona in the Institute of Neurosciences and co-Director of the Event Lab (Experimental Virtual Environments for Neuroscience and Technology). Renowned for his insights and extensive year-long research, Mel Slater’s expertise will contribute to a session that challenges conventions and broadens horizons in the realm of human activity and behaviour in the metaverse. In this session, he will cover the technical foundations of the metaverse, the emerging role of AI, and its implications for society.

The Next Phase: Integration, Creativity, Connectivity

Fueled by the rapid evolutions of AI, 5&6G, robotics, haptics, brain-computer interfaces, and neuroscience integration, XR technologies are revolutionising industries at an increasing speed. In this era of technological integration, we firmly believe that diverse perspectives are key to success. Immersive Tech Week actively seeks to unite diverse voices in business, art, research, and the public to help shape policies, sustainable business models, ethical guidelines, design principles, and standardisation initiatives. Prioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion will lead to advancements that positively impact multiple sectors and society as a whole. As Benjamin de Wit, founder of the VRDays Foundation and artistic director of Immersive Tech Week, states: “This year we want to embrace the boundless possibilities of a future where technology develops in perfect harmony with humanity and the planet. Immersive Tech Week 2023 beckons attendees to experience and explore the next phase of virtual and augmented worlds, XR technology, and spatial computing, powered by technologies such as AI, 5G, 6G, robotics, haptics, brain-computer interfaces, and neuroscientific integration.”

Janneke Staarink, director of de Doelen, emphasises the importance of the event for the city of Rotterdam: “With renowned top curators such as Karen Palmer, Hsin-Chien Huang, and Mel Slater on board, the festival explores the latest developments in XR technologies, putting Rotterdam on the map as a hotbed of innovation and creativity. We are proud to bring together professionals, students, and enthusiastic XR enthusiasts to explore the future of XR and gain inspiration for positive changes. Our focus on diversity, equality, and inclusion leads to progress in various sectors and has an impact on society as a whole.”