At PRISM, Michael Connolly spoke about 'Augmented Reality for Industry', and how WebAR enables immediate deployment of industrial training, medical assistance, and collaborative work experiences while eliminating platform gatekeepers.

Michael is an Animation and Game Development Lecturer at Dundalk Institute of Technology. His presentation also looked how WebAR removes barriers to adoption of AR in industry. "What we liked about it was that you just go to the website and it works. There's no download times and it functions just like a web app... we do find is that people will use it straight away."

Michael also underlined the low-cost AR benefits versus expensive headsets, and how it can be used as a tool for guided maintenance, ""How much was the Apple Vision… two grand? Three grand? And this is €10."

Watch the full presentation here:

At PRISM '25 Iris Kerssebeeck, from MSLETB XRHub Sligo, spoke about the new Immersive Technology Apprenticeship, "created by industry for industry", with "first apprentices in 2026". In her slides she highlighted the following details:

• Earn while you learn: A 2-year immersive technology apprenticeship where the apprentice gains hands-on experience while earning a salary.

• Industry-designed programme: Created by industry, for industry, with modules specifically developed by leading immersive technology experts.

• Blended learning approach: Combines primarily on-the-job training with scheduled off-the-job sessions to build both technical, practical and transversal skills.

• Supports: Every apprentice is supported by an industry mentor and provided with a full Tech Pack from MSLETB.

Watch Iris's full presentation…

Irish manufacturing group Decotek Automotive develops exterior trim components for the global automotive industry, including Volvo, Aston Martin and Porsche. At PRISM, Continuous Improvement Manager Mauricio A. Contadini spoke about using XR as a Tool to Improve Multi-Site Team Collaboration.

”So the XR Digi Project started because we have two sites. We have experts on these two sites. We have specialists on these both sites. But how to share this knowledge? Because during the development of a car a project we need to share this knowledge. We need to facilitate the problem shooting because if we have a problem during the project, during the production or even a challenge for our customers, we need to share the information and easily find the solution.”

Decotek is a client of Eirmersive member Irish Manufacturing Research. You can watch the full presentation below.

For KUKA Robotics Ireland, Mixed Reality takes robot operation to the next level of ease of use. That’s according to Managing Director Brian Cooney, who highlighted its use in creating virtual zones for human safety around robot cells, when he spoke at PRISM.

"We can build all these virtual safety zones around it. And then we can export that into the mixed reality and we can take it on our handheld devices and walk around the shop floor where we're going to be putting this robot cell. In this case, it's a virtual robot cell until we get the approvals on it, but we can check out all the various different safety elements around that."

Then, referring specifically to KUKA’s use of Virtual Reality Brian said, “If you're walking around the factory in the real world you can see where all the problems exist. If you've already designed it digitally and you can export to VR, you can now walk around your factory before it gets delivered”

Watch the full recording of Brian's excellent presentation below.

Exciting update from Eirmersive member Monster Theory. Founder Daniel Staines has just shared a look at their new multi-user Mixed Reality platform, built to make MR experiences more accessible and stable for real-world deployment. They’ve opened a pilot scheme for selected collaborators, with live demos now booking in Sligo and sessions planned for Dublin and London.

In his announcement, Daniel explained:

“Monster Theory is a new immersive studio based at the ATU Innovation Centre in Sligo. Over the past while, we’ve been quietly delivering XR, projection mapping, and interactive installations for a range of clients, while building our internal pipeline and testing new tools.

Lately, we’ve been focused on Mixed Reality, developing a multi-user, location-based platform that makes deploying MR projects easier for teams working outside of game development.

Multi-user mixed reality is an incredible way to explore ideas, but it’s still pretty complex to deploy, and all the platforms we tested couldn’t guarantee the stability we need for live events.”

“How do you do that when you don’t have a physical terminal to walk into? … And that’s where VR came into the picture.”

At PRISM '25 Bilal Shahid, Project Officer at daa International spoke about 'Using VR for Operational Readiness at Airports'. “We have a five-star rating with over 400 participants across different countries with our VR training module."

In fact, their VR Integration programme, implemented at Red Sea International Airport, recently won the Aviation Business Middle East Safety Enhancement Project of the Year Award. 👏

Bilal specialises in Airport Operations Advisory & Consulting. daa International is a client of Eirmersive member RealSim Ltd.

“We’re proud to be one of the first companies in Saudi Arabia, in the Middle East, and one of the first in the Middle East overall to incorporate VR into airport operations.”

You can watch the full presentation here:

“If we want to compete on a global basis, we need to make sure our manufacturing and industrial processes are as effective as possible".

That’s according to Mark Sage who explained 'Why Enterprise AR Matters' during his keynote address at PRISM. Mark is Executive Director at the AR for Enterprise Alliance and delivered no-nonsense nuggets in his presentation.

“It’s about reducing time, minimising errors, and lowering costs. These are things we need to be doing now. People think this technology is about innovation and the future,... it’s happening now.”

As Mark pointed out, small savings combined make a big saving. Not that all saving are small !

“Lockheed Martin made a 99% improvement on getting satellites into the sky using AR.”

“Newport News Shipbuilding went from 36 hours to 90 minutes—a 96% saving.”

Watch the full presentation…

"I was the first one to put eye tracking in VR,... But then there was also an ethical issue that I stumbled on".

So said Timmy Ghiurau (ex-Volvo Cars Innovation Leader) while delivering a remarkable keynote address at Eirmersive’s PRISM event, in a presentation was full of technical insights but gained extra heft with the thoughtful consideration of ethical issues. Innovation isn’t just about what we can build, it’s about what we should build.

In a talk that went on to cover topics of Creativity, Vision and Scale Ghiurau shared, ”One of my best lessons is that you need a box to think outside the box, and for me, automotive was a pretty big box, especially Volvo.”

“Imagine the scale of what automotive can do. If I can save human lives, if I can put technology like eye tracking or other amazing tech that can improve safety and improve human life, that will change the world.”

Eirmersive was proud to co-deliver Shaping Tomorrow: Driving Business Innovation with Immersive Tech & AI in partnership with CREW, alongside the Western Development Commission and with support from Data2Sustain. This day-long event in Galway was a powerful demonstration of how immersive technologies and AI are shaping the future of business and creativity in Ireland.

As the representative body for the immersive technology sector in Ireland, Eirmersive’s mission is to champion innovation, foster collaboration, and ensure that Irish businesses and creators are equipped to leverage emerging tools. Events like this are central to that mission.
The agenda was designed to move beyond theory and into tangible examples, delivered by Eirmersive members. These stories, underline the versatility and transformative power of immersive tech across sectors.

Enterprise Ireland has reported that Eirmersive member Imvizar - a Dublin-based Augmented Reality company - expects to raise €5 million in its next funding round, scheduled for 2026.

“Founded in 2021 by Michael Guerin and Adele Keane, Imvizar currently employs 15 staff members and has raised a total of €2 million in funding to date”

This news was first reported in a Business Post feature, where co-founder Michael Guerin noted, “The big shift in the last year has been that we want to help people create experiences themselves. We’ve built a sort of Canva for AR, called Lureo. It’s in beta mode at the moment, being tested by a number of people.”

“The big focus now for Guerin is moving into the smart glasses space, developing Lureo as a platform for more people to create AR experiences.”

Read the full article…

Eirmersive officially launched the PRISM Manufacturing Programme at an exclusive evening reception attended by programme partners, funders, and manufacturing leaders from across the island of Ireland.

In early 2026, the programme will engage manufacturing SMEs across the island to explore deep tech applications, such as immersive, Digital Twin and AI technologies, towards improved efficiencies and optimisation of manufacturing processes.

With strong backing from cross-border partners - including InterTradeIreland, Queen’s University Belfast, Digital Catapult NI, DundalkIT and others - PRISM represents a transformative, collaborative pilot approach to advancing digital innovation and competitiveness across the island.

The launch comes following an exceptional day that began with…

At this year’s PRISM event, Adaptas and The Immersive Agency collaborated to unveil an innovative VR experience, designed to deepen understanding of microaggressions and psychological safety in the workplace. Participants stepped into a virtual meeting room where characters discussed upcoming DEI initiatives. As the conversation unfolded, users could observe, listen and intervene when they noticed inappropriate or off-colour remarks. Each interruption offered a choice of responses, and selecting the most appropriate option visibly improved the team’s psychological safety score.

This interactive format gave delegates a powerful, embodied way to explore the impact of microaggressions and practice inclusive leadership in real time. Engagement was high throughout the day, with many attendees eager to test the headset. The experience sparked meaningful conversations about bias, belonging and the subtle dynamics that shape team culture.

For more information, reach out to…

Eirmersive member Animotive (a VR Virtual Production tool) published a new podcast episode called “VR at Scale”.

Animotive CEO and Co-Founder, Jack Morrow, hosted a conversation about what it actually takes to make virtual reality work with students, educators, and businesses.

He was joined by -

Samantha Kingston, Co-Founder of Virtual Umbrella, a marketing and production agency specialising in immersive experiences.

Christophe Mallet, CEO of Bodyswaps, creators of VR soft skills training simulations used by universities and global employers.

Dr Alan Hook, Ulster University ‘University of the Year, interactive Media and Digital Media Production ’team of the year award’ winners and Equine Eyes, combining research and real-world applications of VR in education and data-driven training.

Together they explored…

Eirmersive member Grace Dinan spoke to Tech Radio Ireland about her consultancy business JunieXR and the workflows she's exploring with clients to empower their teams and deliver new audience experiences. Grace went on to explain how live Augmented and Virtual Reality works on all our TV sports coverage.

We’ll note here that the gloomy title of the episode refers to the massive AWS outage. And the conversation with Grace was much brighter!

Click through for the link to the episode

Irish Cement Limited recently launched their new programme "Rock to Reality". They asked Eirmersive member Emagine to help reach a modern school leaver aged audience for apprenticeships. With a visit to the Platin campus, Emagine captured 360 imagery and flew drones over the quarry. They built CGI with robots that match real life factory tasks.

“In the end Irish Cement got a portable VR tour of the factory on headsets. With clear views of the kiln, the viewer is taken where they aren't able to go in real life, and that’s where the magic happens”, says Aaron Jay, CEO at Emagine. “Interviews of current apprentice stories round out the app that shows the work and the route to becoming part of the Irish Cement team. There's even a web version for events and classrooms.”

The Biennale Némo is a major event on the digital arts scene in France produced by CENTQUATRE-PARIS. Eirmersive member The Performance Corporation took part in the Biennale’s opening weekend, “surrounded by extraordinary artists and boundary-pushing work from across the world”.

Jo Mangan was, “thrilled to welcome audiences into We Who Live Under Heaven at CENTQUATRE-PARIS, a live mixed-reality opera that merges performance, electronic music and cutting-edge technology to create a haunting, deeply intimate experience.”

We Who Live Under Heaven invites audiences into a virtual world where music, movement and emotion meet, and where the line between real and imagined begins to dissolve. The experience was created by The Performance Corporation, directed by Jo Mangan, composed by Roger Doyle, and performed by Morgan Crowley. Mixed Reality Design was by Eirmersive member Ciara Del Grosso.

Partnering with CREWin Galway and supported by the Western Development Commissionand Data2Sustain, we’re delighted to invite SMEs and Public Sector organisations to a transformative full-day workshop on 12th November in Galway.

With digital technologies advancing at pace, immersive tech and AI are no longer “future trends”; they’re practical tools that can drive real business impact today. This workshop will show you how to apply these technologies as part of your digitisation journey using design thinking methodologies, real-world case studies, and hands-on tools you can bring back to your organisation.

You’ll leave with the inspiration, practical know-how, and confidence to start using immersive tech and AI to innovate, grow, and deliver value.

This event is made possible through the support of Data2Sustain, ensuring accessibility for businesses across the region and enabling more organisations to explore, experiment, and innovate sustainably.

Spaces are limited to 30 people. Secure your place today by…

Eirmersive CEO Camille Donegan sat on the 'Proptech Hot Seat' for a podcast interview with guest host and PR lead with Property District, Cróna Esler. As well as discussing our upcoming event, PRISM, Camille spoke about -

• Eirmersive’s origins & mission

• Sector size & evidence

• National policy & advocacy

• Funding Gaps

• Membership & Ecosystem

• Immersive impact & examples

  • Key differentiator: spatial, six-degrees-of-freedom presence (experience 3D in 3D, not via 2D screens).

  • Training claims: higher impact and retention vs video due to experiential learning (even “false memories” that reinforce skills).

  • Examples: PlaceEngage (AR for built environment), Innovision (wind energy scale/visibility demos—on/offshore).

Watch the full interview here…

Kevin O’Donovan is a prolific Technology Evangelist who bridges the gap between tech hype and tech reality. His technology advisory company is focused on the intersection of technology and the Energy Industry, Digital Twin, Industrial AI and the Industrial Metaverse. So it was a pleasure to be interviewed by Kevin about Eirmersive’s PRISM summit at DkIT on October 29th.

Over the course of a 12 minute conversation Eirmersive CEO Camille Donegan spoke to Kevin about the purpose and ambition of the event. A few quotes noted by Kevin below -

“PRISM is about bringing together industry leaders, researchers, innovators, and potential adopters to explore and and demonstrate how immersive technologies, so that's virtual reality, augmented reality, etc ... And complementary technologies like digital twins and AI are being applied and adding value in the real world. And that's what makes PRISM special, we believe ... it's not about abstract conversations or hype ... it's very focused on use cases and outcomes."

See the full interview with Kevin…

The final review has taken place of a 12-month pan-European collaboration on advancing new AI modalities in XR for the cultural heritage, with a report of VAARHeT, a pan-European applied research collaboration between Germany, Latvia and Ireland.

Eirmersive member XR Ireland worked with Cordula Hansen, Eva Koljera and members of Āraišu Ezerpils Archaeological Park and XYZ Technical Art Services on integrating new AI in XR and interactive immersive implementations in Āraišu Ezerpils Archaeological Park in Latvia.

XR Ireland’s Head of XR Technologies, Guillaume Auvray issued his thanks to the former Irish Ambassador to Latvia, Eimear Friel, Cēsis deputy Mayor Inese Suija - Markova, Katrina Zarina from the Latvian chamber of Commerce, the Latvian TV, local newspapers and other high level representatives for their presence and feedback to the teams. And he expressed special gratitude to David Toolan, for work that included the video report below.