Reviving the Metaverse: Germany's Focus on Practical Applications in Public Administration and Industry

Germany is experiencing a resurgence of interest in the metaverse, particularly focusing on its practical applications in public administration and industry. State governments and research institutions recognize the potential of metaverse technologies to revolutionise various sectors, bridging the gap between physical and digital realms. Led by initiatives such as the Building Culture Innovation research unit at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO, exploration into the metaverse's potential within public services is underway. This includes envisioning a future where citizens can access government services securely from anywhere via smartphones, desktops, VR, or AR glasses. Initiatives like the collaborative effort in Lower Saxony, involving the Ministry of the Interior and Sport, the University of Münster, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, have already showcased the benefits of immersive technologies in improving communication and collaboration within public administration. Projects such as testing extended reality (XR) technologies further highlight Germany's commitment to understanding and harnessing the potential of the metaverse for practical applications in governance and beyond.