Slush side event Match XR brought together hundreds of companies from the fields of extended reality (XR), spatial computing, Web3, AI and enabling technologies. A new feature of the event was the Innovation Talks, with topics of sustainable gaming, ethical use of AI for instance. Finnish and Swedish organisations also had the opportunity to learn more about Horizon Europe and Digital Europe funding applications. The Enterprise Europe Network Finland (EEN) organised a Match XR Matchmaking to enable B2B meetings for companies.
The Matchmaking gathered over 100 participants representing over 20 countries. Bilateral company meetings were pre-arranged and lasted 20 minutes. Participants created their own profile in the matchmaking database, describing who they are, what the company does, what they are looking for or offer, and what time would suit them best.
Owen Cotterell, Co-Founder & Creative Director, JUICE Immersive was part of Innovate UK’s Createch delegation at Slush. He attended Match XR as both an exhibitor and matchmaking participant. He commented the events: “Exhibiting at Match XR was the perfect way to kick-off our week at Slush Helsinki! The matchmaking platform in the build-up to the event was a fantastic way to learn about others coming to the event and to tee up a full afternoon of one-to-one meetings. The day itself was a brilliantly vibrant event during which I had countless conversations with future customers, partners and collaborators with whom I was able to benchmark our EmbodyCam 360VR technology and explore tangible and exciting synergies. I could not recommend Match XR highly enough to anyone in the immersive technology space!”.
Owen Cotterel, JUICE Immersive presents his product to a Finnish visitor (photo Mari Kivinen)
Key account manager Iiro Naamanka from 3D Talo participated in the event as an exhibitor and a matchmaking participant. 3D House has been in the XR industry since 2016. For 3D Talo Finland, Match XR is an annual event; the company has been involved for as long as the event has been organised. For them, MatchXR is a meeting point; you see people you know in the industry and where everyone is in terms of different technological solutions.
”The best part of the event for us is the discussions where we can brainstorm new ideas and think about what the future of our industry looks like and what trends others see in our industry. We are not so much selling our expertise as exchanging ideas and views on the present and the future. So maybe we are also learning something new ourselves,” commented Iiro Naamanka.
Crowded 3D Talo stand at the Match XR expo area (photo Iiro Naamanka)
What is Match XR?
Match XR is an annual Slush side event. The event focuses on companies in the XR sector. It is organised by Helsinki XR Center and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. This year’s partners were FAIR EDIH (Finnish AI Region European Digital Innovation Hub), Business Finland, VIVE, BSG-Co, and Enterprise Europe Network.
See also
Enterprise Europe Network Finland’s matchmaking events
Finnish AI Region EDIH: tekoälyn kärkihanke pk-yrityksille
XR2Learn, Open Calls
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Johanna Niemistö
Senior Advisor
Enterprise Europe Network
Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce
