An overview of national strategies and policies for immersive technologies

Immersive technologies, including augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), digital twins, and virtual worlds, are increasingly reshaping how individuals, firms, and public institutions interact with digital content. They offer significant opportunities across sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and culture. Despite their growing societal and economic relevance, policymaking specific to immersive technologies remains relatively nascent and fragmented. This paper analyses national and sub-national strategies and policies explicitly targeting immersive technologies, drawing on a dataset of 53 policies from 23 countries and the European Union. It identifies five main policy approaches: targeted funding for immersive technology development and deployment; non-targeted funding embedded in broader digital transformation programmes; digital ecosystem support through infrastructure, skills, and standards; strategic frameworks articulating long-term national or regional visions; and guidance or principles promoting responsible innovation and security.