MetaVET
Metaverse & Cobots for the Future of vocational education and training (VET)
Regional Impact
The project targets three transition regions: Western Macedonia (Greece), Centru (Romania), and Southeastern Bulgaria. These areas face the dual challenge of economic restructuring and fossil fuel phase-out.
COALition strengthens local ecosystems, builds capacity, and helps secure funding, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and job creation in emerging sectors like renewables, hydrogen, and energy efficiency.
Market Context
Coal regions across Europe are under pressure to phase out fossil fuels while preserving economic stability.
Despite their challenges, they also present major opportunities — with estimates of up to 314,000 jobs created through clean energy investments by 2030.
EU policies like the Green Deal, Just Transition Fund, and Hydrogen Strategy support this shift, yet local coordination, strategic planning, and skills development remain key barriers.
Beneficiary
Primary beneficiaries include workers in coal-related industries, regional and local authorities, innovation ecosystem stakeholders, academic institutions, and SMEs in the energy and tech sectors.
Broader beneficiaries include residents of transition regions, future investors, and the extended EU innovation community focused on clean energy and climate neutrality.
Stakeholder Network
COALition is implemented by a diverse consortium of partners from Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria, including public institutions, universities, regional agencies, private companies, and NGOs.
Key members include CERTH (leader), Iceberg Plus, UMFST Târgu Mureș, Sofia University, Mureș County Council, Stara Zagora REDA, and many more.
MetaVET reimagines vocational education and training (VET) in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe by integrating emerging technologies like the metaverse and collaborative robotics (cobots) into learning environments.
The project develops immersive training modules that bridge the gap between market needs and VET curricula.
Iceberg+ contributes its expertise in business development, innovation strategy, and entrepreneurial education. The team supports curriculum development and ensures real-world relevance through partnerships with industry actors.
Regional Impact
MetaVET strengthens the digital and entrepreneurial capacity of VET institutions and learners in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Romania.
With Iceberg+ leading key work packages, the project fosters stronger connections between education and the tech-driven labor market, helping regions catch up with industry 4.0 and XR trends.
Market Context
As the nature of work shifts rapidly due to automation and digitalization, VET systems must evolve.
MetaVET addresses this by embedding metaverse-based learning and robotics-driven collaboration into vocational education — preparing future workers for jobs that don't yet exist.
Beneficiary
- VET students and teachers
- Curriculum developers and trainers
- Tech-sector companies and manufacturers
- Policymakers and education administrators
Stakeholder Network
MetaVET is implemented by a 7-partner consortium:
- Iceberg+ (Romania) – leading innovation, entrepreneurship & business training
- AREA (Italy) – pedagogical expertise in ICT
- FabLab Bosnia – innovation and maker education
- VET schools from Ilijaš and Nikšić
- Centre for Vocational Education of Montenegro
- University SSST Sarajevo
Iceberg+ plays a leading role in shaping the entrepreneurship and business skills modules, and in facilitating collaboration between VET institutions and industry partners.
Results
(Short Timeline Yearly)
The project’s outcomes are mapped over a three-year period:
Year 1
Developed metaverse and cobot learning modules
'Piloted immersive training in partner schools
Conducted capacity-building workshops for trainers
Year 2
Scaled implementation across regions
Evaluated impact on student skills
Shared best practices across the EU and Balkan education networks
Check out the work
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