FabLab B&H Partners in Europe’s UPRAISE Project to Build the Future of XR and Virtual Worlds Education

Sarajevo, November 2025 — FabLab Bosnia & Herzegovina is proud to announce its partnership in UPRAISE – Virtual Worlds Innovation Masters, a €16 million flagship initiative funded by the Digital Europe Programme. The project brings together leading European universities, research institutes, and innovation hubs to create a shared ecosystem for Virtual Worlds and immersive technologies, driving the next generation of skills for Europe’s digital and green transitions.

UPRAISE is Europe’s coordinated response to a growing need for expertise in Extended Reality (XR), Digital Twins, and other immersive technologies that blend the physical and digital worlds. By 2029, the project aims to make Virtual Worlds skills and education interoperable, inclusive, and accessible to all learners across the continent.

Within the consortium, FabLab B&H contributes as a regional innovation and training partner, ensuring the inclusion of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans in this European transformation. Its role focuses on connecting education with industry through hands-on learning, regional data, and infrastructure support.

FabLab B&H will:

• Provide skills and labour-market insights from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Southeast Europe to align learning with real industry needs.

• Co-develop training modules on XR and Industry 4.0, integrating maker-driven and project-based learning methods.

• Deliver hands-on training programmes with local SMEs and universities.

• Support digital infrastructure and testing through collaboration with associate partners — SSST University, ASA Institute, DKR Tuzla, and QSS Sarajevo — creating a network of XR testbeds and learning environments across the country.

• Help validate and refine immersive training environments for education, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors.

UPRAISE has been awarded the EU STEP Seal for its contribution to Europe’s strategic technologies and leadership in Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds.

“Through UPRAISE, FabLab B&H will help shape how Bosnia and Herzegovina connects to Europe’s digital future. We are building not just skills, but a lasting ecosystem for innovation and immersive education. Our ambition is to become the national center for AR, VR, and XR development — linking local talent with the European network of excellence,” said Edin Škaljić, Founder and Director of FabLab B&H.