10 projects selected for phase 2 of the Innovation Impact Challenge: IX in Urban Development

After the first phase, 10 projects have been selected for the next step within the Innovation Impact Challenge: IX in Urban Development. In this second phase, the selected parties further develop their ideas into a tested prototype.

The challenge focuses on how Immersive Experiences (IX) can contribute to solving complex urban issues, such as (affordable) housing, sustainability, climate adaptation, and accessibility.

Immersive Experiences (IX) are experiences that immerse users in an interactive and lifelike digital environment. Think of virtual reality, 360° video, augmented reality, interactive animations, and games. With these experiences, scenarios and the impact of choices in the physical living environment are made clear.

From Feasibility Study to Tested Prototype

Earlier, 17 projects were selected for phase 1, in which entrepreneurs conducted a feasibility study. Based on these results, 10 projects have now been selected for phase 2.

In this phase, the entrepreneurs focus on developing and testing a working prototype.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), CIIIC, RVO, and the municipalities of Amsterdam and Almere challenged entrepreneurs to develop innovative IX products and services that contribute to a future-proof urban environment. The solutions demonstrate how IX helps municipalities and other involved parties make faster and better-informed decisions, as the coherence and impact of different solutions are made more visible and tangible.

The submitted projects fall within two themes:

• Theme 1: Appropriate, innovative, and future-proof IX solutions that approach urban challenges integrally
• Theme 2: Preventing and reducing the negative consequences of urban development for those involved

With these 10 projects, the Innovation Impact Challenge takes the next step in applying immersive experiences within urban development. In the coming period, the selected parties will further develop their solutions and test them in practice. The start of this phase was festively marked during CIIIC 2026 on April 16 at the Werkspoorkathedraal in Utrecht, together with the selected entrepreneurs and in the presence of DG Youssef Louakili.

The 10 Selected Projects

Theme 1: Integrated IX Solutions for Urban Challenges

MapGear B.V. – TransitieTwin3D
Municipalities face major spatial challenges such as housing construction, energy transition, and street redesign. For residents, these plans are often difficult to understand, leading to uncertainty, resistance, and delays. Existing participation solutions are often expensive, project-specific, and poorly linked to municipal data. TransitieTwin3D approaches this differently. It is a scalable participation platform that automatically translates plans into understandable 3D images of the neighborhood. Residents explore and discuss scenarios together, via an interactive table and later online, and respond directly to specific locations. Phase 1 proved its functionality, phase 2 develops it into a widely applicable solution.

Stipo – Placemaking Immersive
STIPO and ORB Amsterdam are jointly developing Placemaking Immersive. It digitizes proven participation methods via IX for complex urban challenges. The core is the innovative 'incremental co-creation' methodology: stakeholders share a single headset in a 'relay form' and build step by step on each other's visual input. Instead of a single static projection, senses (light, sound, interactive elements, smell, and touch) are stimulated sequentially. This approach forces dialogue and promotes agreement by visualizing visions directly on site.

LOS Ruimte – Participate-360
This project focuses on the further development of a digital platform that supports the design, calculation of ecosystem services, and 3D visualization of public spaces. By linking and automating existing systems, a method is created in which spatial choices can be made faster, better substantiated, and clearer.

Witteveen+Bos – IX Stakeholder Participation Framework
This project develops a digital IX framework to make plans more transparent and understandable. Residents can view variants, understand choices, and respond easily. Governments gain better insight, more support, and stronger substantiated decisions.

Advier B.V. – City at Stake
An interactive, immersive game experience in which policy teams experience how today's choices impact up to 2050. The project translates complex policy issues into concrete, human scenarios and stimulates cross-domain thinking.

Theme 2: Reducing Negative Effects of Urban Development

Webbio B.V. – City in View
A participatory Digital Twin as a SaaS solution for municipalities. The platform integrates spatial data and policy information into interactive 3D visualizations, aiming to improve citizen participation and make decision-making more transparent.

Siekerman Technology B.V. – AR Insight
A platform that allows easy development of AR applications for urban development. Residents can view future construction projects on-site through augmented reality.

Common City Development B.V. – PublicTwin
A platform that enables large-scale, inclusive citizen participation via mobile tools, 3D environments, and AI analysis. It translates input from residents into usable insights for decision-making.

Mama Producties B.V. – Virtual Reality and Neurofeedback
An instrument that combines VR with neurofeedback and eye-tracking to provide insight into how people experience urban environments. This helps in designing inclusive and more pleasant living environments.

Dutch Rose Media – Urban Prototype Station: Through Our Eyes
A platform that makes urban plans accessible through AR and VR. With tools for inspiration, design, and preview, it supports better and more inclusive decision-making.