image: A banner from the MASTER project
Credit: European Science Communication Institute gGmbH
In April 2025, the MASTER project launched its 2nd Open Call, inviting educational institutions, content creation services engaging students in XR application testing, and SMEs or large companies (as challenge providers only) from EU Member States, associated overseas countries and territories, and third countries linked to Horizon Europe.
Applicants were asked to address specific challenges and submit proposals for evaluation. Following a rigorous assessment process conducted by both internal and external experts, 24 projects were selected for funding, having successfully met all the eligibility and quality criteria.
The execution period for these projects began in September 2025 and will continue until June 2026. During this phase, the selected projects will:
- Receive financial support of up to €100,000.
- Develop innovative educational content for integration into the MASTER platform.
- Validate cutting-edge XR technologies with students in schools and professional training environments.
- Benefit from technical, educational, and business mentoring provided by the MASTER consortium.
Throughout this period, the participating teams will design and test educational materials, ensuring their effectiveness and alignment with real learning needs, before integrating them into the MASTER platform.
The 1st Open Call focused on the creation of digital learning solutions using XR technology. Now, in this second phase, the emphasis shifts to their validation and real-world application. The selected projects will demonstrate how these XR-based solutions can enhance learning experiences, providing evidence of their impact and scalability.