In Match Up – XR event hundreds of professionals from extended reality came together in Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Arabia Creative Campus on 20 November. The annual SLUSH pre-event offered international keynote speakers, dozens of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) demos and the possibility to have short 1-on-1 meetings between guests in Matchmaking session.

The focus of the event was to network XR people in Finland more extensive than ever. In addition, several international guests arrived to the venue. New VR and AR applications were displayed on 37 demo booths and several operators had presentations at the FIVR Stage, which was dedicated to customer’s cases. Matchmaking session gathered over 120 persons in 1-on-1 meetings to extend their networks.

On the main stage keynote speakers talked about some hot topics. Steven LaValle presented the future and challenges in wireless XR, Urho Konttori and Casper Wickman gave the audience fascinating test drive with Volvo Cars & Varjo Technologies.

Telia’s XR Challenge took place on the main stage – there was 6 innovative pitches and after the tough competition, the jury announced Gribbin Oy idea Grib x Telia as the winner. With Grib x Telia, users can easily create 3D content on their phones. The idea was also innovatively fitted to AR by Telia. The Gribbing Oy convinced the jury with its idea and suitability to the masses. Gribbing received a prize of EUR 30,000 and an opportunity to cooperate with Telia throughout the Nordic and Baltic region.

750 Attendees
37 Demo booths
11 Speakers & XR Showcases
120 Pre-booked meetings
20 Nationalities
40 Volunteers

Main organizer of the event was Helsinki XR Center (HXRC), Metropolia University of the Applied Scienses and FIVR (Finnish Virtual Reality Association). This year the main partner was Telia Finland. 

Growing XR market

Startup companies that work at HXRC presented part of the demo booths and Showcases. One of the objectives of HXRC is to help new startup companies by providing workspace and devices. Furthermore, HXRC aims to be the largest XR networking hub in Finland.

Match Up – XR event was a great example how big positive impact HXRC has on the Finnish XR field, says Tiina Vuorio from HXRC.

Although extended reality is not a new invention, the market is growing right now. Virtual reality devices have been used in industry and in medical and army training from the seventeens. Nowadays, technology has improved from the early days of XR so much, that consumers can buy great headsets with which to enjoy VR gaming and other entertainment at home as well. And as the prices are going down, and mobility going up, more and more people are slowly buying more and more devices. While the consumers are still waiting for the killer VR app, Half-Life: Alyx might prove to be just that when it’s released early next year.

In 2019 eleven VR headsets have been already released, and one of them is by Finnish company Varjo. Additionally, there is hype around new AR glasses, such as Microsoft Hololens 2 and whatever Apple is planning to release in the field in few years.

According to the latest forecasts by IDC, over the next four years, consumer spending in XR will grow 69%, while industry spending will see an even larger growth of 134%. The effects on GDP will be great, and according to PwC, next to UK and Germany, Finland is one of the countries in Europe seeing the largest positive effect between now and 2030. Taking these forecasts into account, it is extremely important to move the Finnish industry forward by collaborating within Finland and by bringing our excellent products and knowledge abroad together as a combined force of Finnish XR industry, says Santeri Saarinen, HXRC Technology Expert

Undoubtedly, there is a demand for an event like Match Up – XR event in Finland in order to keep us on the top of the XR field globally. The planning of next year’s event is underway: Match Up 2020 will take place on 18th Nov 2020 at the Metropolia Arabia Creative Campus.