Request for strategic partners with expertise in XR media, immersive health applications, defence simulation and wellness environments for co-development and funding

Summary

Profile Type

Technology request

POD Reference

TRNL20250509008

Term of Validity

14 May 2025 - 14 May 2026

Company's Country

Netherlands

Type of partnership

Commercial agreement with technical assistance
Investment agreement
Research and development cooperation agreement

Targeted Countries

All countries

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General information

Short Summary

A Dutch SME active in immersive media and XR development is seeking funding, technology and know-how to improve virtual navigation and interactive therapeutic environments in their virtual navigation treadmill. A solution is needed to enhance applications in health, defence training and wellness. The company is looking for partners in the health tech, simulation (defence) and wellness sectors for technical cooperation, research collaboration or investment agreements.

Full Description

The Dutch SME Virtuwalk bv. specialising in XR media and immersive technologies is seeking international partners for further development, co-investment and research collaboration. The company has developed a patented system that enables users to freely navigate through 3D virtual environments while physically walking in a confined space. This is achieved through a combination of motion redirection and spatial recalibration: users experience natural walking—including turning corners and changing direction—while in reality continuing to walk in a straight line. The core technology has been granted a patent in Europe.
A fully functional demo installation is currently operational in Zeewolde (Netherlands), allowing live demonstrations of the system's potential across various use cases. The company is now seeking partners with expertise in health technologies, simulation training, smart city development, and immersive wellness to expand the application of this technology and move toward international scaling.
Three main use cases are currently under active development:
1. VR exposure therapy for trauma and phobias – The system enables controlled, step-by-step exposure to environments that may trigger trauma or fear (e.g., heights, open spaces, or confined rooms), in a safe, adjustable, and interactive virtual space. Integration with AI agents and real-time feedback systems is being explored for personalised therapeutic journeys.

2. Immersive wellness and virtual walking experiences – Aimed at elderly users or people with limited mobility, the technology allows users to enjoy immersive walks through natural or artistic environments. These spaces are co-designed with visual artists, composers and psychologists to stimulate mental well-being and reduce isolation.

3. Digital twin cities and cultural environments – The system enables users to walk through accurate, interactive digital versions of real cities or designed environments. This offers opportunities for virtual tourism, participatory urban planning, and digital heritage experiences.

4. (Concept stage) Military simulation and training
– The company is exploring partnerships in the defence sector to apply its technology for realistic training simulations, enabling natural navigation through tactical or urban environments without the need for large physical spaces.

The company is seeking technology and research partners for the co-development of content modules, integration of physiological or psychological monitoring systems, and the scaling of hardware components. Funding partners are also welcome to support further R&D and international rollout.
Why international cooperation? The company believes that meaningful progress in XR applications for health, training and urban development requires interdisciplinary and international collaboration. Partnering with experts from different sectors and regions will help accelerate innovation, improve usability, and ensure cultural and regulatory relevance across countries.
Cooperation types sought:
– Technical cooperation for joint development of applications and hardware
– Research cooperation in health, therapy and immersive media
– Investment agreements to support scaling and commercial deployment

The Dutch SME is open to pilot projects, academic collaboration, co-development partnerships and joint funding applications under EU programmes. Ideally, partners are active in health innovation, simulation training, wellness technologies or cultural/urban digitalisation.

Advantages and Innovations

See above

Technical Specification or Expertise Sought

- Partner with a like-minded company to co-develop and scale the technology.
We are seeking a partner with a shared vision on immersive technologies and social impact, capable of co-investing in further development of our XR navigation system and bringing it to broader markets.

- Access to an existing international network and potential integration into a salesforce.
We value access to an established network for market expansion and are open to joint go-to-market strategies, including integration into an existing sales team or commercial structure.

- Participation in ongoing research and innovation projects related to XR, health or simulation.
We aim to join or co-initiate funded research programmes, particularly in the fields of trauma therapy, digital wellness and virtual urban environments, where our technology can be tested and validated.

- Possibility for financial participation through equity acquisition in Virtuwalk.
We are open to partners acquiring shares in our company as a way to strengthen long-term collaboration, align strategic interests and jointly benefit from future growth.

- Contribution of technical know-how in immersive media, health tech or simulation training.
We are looking for partners with relevant technical knowledge—ranging from physiological sensing and AI-driven interaction to defence-grade simulation design—who can actively contribute to the product roadmap.
Access to infrastructure for testing, showcasing or further development.

- Ideal partners can offer physical or digital infrastructure, such as testing labs, demo locations, user communities or integration platforms, where the Virtuwalk system can be deployed, demonstrated or evaluated.
Expertise in legal frameworks and intellectual property.

- We welcome collaboration with partners who bring legal expertise in areas such as international patents, licensing strategies, data protection and regulatory compliance in health or defence sectors.

Stage of Development

Available for demonstration

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal 4: Quality Education

IPR status

IPR granted

IPR notes

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT
LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner

We are looking for international partners with a strong capacity for innovation, sufficient liquidity to support scaling activities, and a solid organisational structure to co-develop, test, promote and distribute XR-based applications in healthcare, defence, wellness, or digital urban environments. Depending on the cooperation type, the role of the partner is outlined below:

1. Technical cooperation
Expected partner profile: Developer, engineer, immersive media expert, or integrator with experience in XR/VR systems, spatial computing or simulation-based design (preferably 5+ years).
Role: Co-develop new functionalities and user scenarios in the Virtuwalk system.
Contribute specific technologies (e.g., AI integration, biometric feedback, haptics, tracking systems).
Provide access to development teams or R&D infrastructure.
Conduct joint testing and optimisation, ideally with access to relevant user groups or living labs.

2. Research cooperation
Expected partner profile: University, applied research centre, health institute, defence research body or innovation lab.
Role: Develop or co-lead joint research proposals (e.g., Horizon Europe, EIT Health, EIC Pathfinder).
Conduct clinical or field-based validation studies (e.g., trauma therapy, rehabilitation, simulation training).
Share knowledge in the fields of psychology, physiology, architecture or spatial cognition.
Participate in joint dissemination, publication and impact measurement.

3. Investment/financial cooperation
Expected partner profile: Strategic investor, impact fund, corporate venture unit, or established SME with financial capacity and interest in immersive technologies or health innovation.
Role: Acquire equity in Virtuwalk to help fund product refinement, market entry and international rollout.
Possibly host or promote the technology within their own infrastructure, client base or region.
Assist in scaling through capital injection, strategic advice and financial structuring.
Optionally take an advisory or board role to guide long-term growth.

4. Cross-cutting expectations (all types):
Ability to engage in structured collaboration (e.g., co-development sprints, grant writing, product planning).
Preferably mid-sized or large organisations with proven experience in international cooperation.
Strong innovation track record, openness to working with creative industries, and commitment to inclusive technology.

5. Adapting to a changing world – a use case for defence training
We recognise that a rapidly changing world demands agile, forward-thinking responses. With Virtuwalk, we offer a solution that can significantly enhance military training and education. Our system allows soldiers to walk through highly dynamic, realistic simulations—without requiring large physical training grounds. Environments can be quickly adjusted, offering adaptable mission scenarios for strategic rehearsal, cognitive stress testing, or terrain familiarisation. We believe this makes training faster, safer, and more effective.

Type and Size of Partner