Core concerns and activities of the Metaverse Europe Foundation: For a value-based, sustainable digital Europe
The Metaverse Europe Foundation is committed to shaping an ethically sound metaverse that preserves European values such as democracy, the rule of law and individual freedom. Through concrete projects, studies and pilot initiatives, it develops practical solutions on topics such as data protection, digital identity, sustainability, decentralization, European sovereignty and the human-centered design of artificial intelligence in Web 4.0. The foundation makes the findings and results available to the public in a transparent manner in order to promote social dialogue and actively help shape a responsible, inclusive digital future in Europe.
Our core topics are “Protection of identities”, “Intellectual self-control”, “Legally secure space”, “Sustainability”, “Data sovereignty”, “Positive images of the future”, “European sovereignty”, “Digital ownership”, “Decentralization”, “Man 1.0 in Web 4.0”, “Shaping democracy“.“.
On the core topic of mental self-control with Prof. Dr. Thomas Metzinger
Prof. Dr. Thomas Metzinger has been working as a philosopher at the interface between philosophy of mind and cognitive neuroscience for many years; he is also concerned with the ethical, anthropological, and sociocultural consequences of advances in neuroscience and artificial intelligence.
Prof. Dr. Metzinger (born 1958) studied philosophy, religious studies and ethnology in Frankfurt am Main, where he received his doctorate in 1985 with a thesis on the recent discussion of the body-soul problem. In 1992 he habilitated at the Center for Philosophy and Foundations of Science at the University of Giessen, and in 1998 he spent a year at the University of California in San Diego, from where he was appointed to a professorship in Philosophy of Cognition (C3) at the University of Osnabrück in 1999. Only half a year later he changed to a professorship for theoretical philosophy with emphasis on the 19. and/or 20th century (C4) at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, where he held a senior research professorship from 2019 to 2022.
On the core topic of protecting identities with Dr. Louis Rosenberg
Foundation Metaverse Europe Position Paper on Identity Protection by Louis Rosenberg, PhD
Dr. Louis Rosenberg is an early pioneer of virtual and augmented reality. He earned his PhD from Stanford University and has published over 100 academic papers. A prolific inventor, Rosenberg has been awarded over 300 patents for his innovations in the fields of VR, AR, and AI.
Rosenberg’s career began over 30 years ago in VR labs at Stanford and NASA where he worked on early vision systems and haptic interfaces. In 1992 Rosenberg invented the first Mixed Reality system at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Called the Virtual Fixtures platform, the pioneering system enabled users to interact with real and virtual objects for the first time. In 1993 Rosenberg then founded the early VR company Immersion Corporation which pioneered a wide range of technologies, including the first VR medical simulators for training surgeons. At Immersion, Rosenberg also invented the first haptic mouse and haptic user interface.
He brought Immersion public on NASDAQ in 1999 and it remains a public company today. In 1996 Rosenberg founded Microscribe, a 3D-graphics company specializing in rapid 3D digitization of physical objects. Microscribe products have been used extensively by 3D filmmakers, game developers, and virtual world builders. The Microscribe was used to create many well-known feature films including Shrek, Ice Age, A Bug’s Life, and Starship Troopers. In 2004 he founded the early AR company Outland Research which pioneered geospatial media technologies which was acquired by Google in 2011. In 2014, Rosenberg founded Unanimous AI, an AI company that amplifies the intelligence of networked human groups in shared environments, including in virtual worlds. Rosenberg is also the Chief Scientist of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance, the Global Technology Advisor to the XR Safety Initiative, a metaverse technology advisor to the Future of Marketing Institute, and an expert technology advisor to the XR30 Policy Fund. In addition, Rosenberg writes often about technology for VentureBeat, Big Think, and other publications around the world.
On the core topic of positive images of the future with Dr. Isabella Hermann
Isabella Hermann is an independent analyst and speaker in the area of science fiction. For her, the fascination of the genre lies in the fact that it connects our modern, technified world with our primeval hopes and fears as well as with current social trends. In this way, science fiction serves as a mirror of our present and a metaphor for the future.
As a political scientist holding a doctorate in International Relations, she explores in particular the question of how the genre reflects new technologies, socio-political value systems and global politics. Topics here include climate change and the Anthropocene as well as space travel and Mars colonization – and above all digitalisation, artificial intelligence and virtual worlds.
Isabella Hermann is also Artistic Director of the Berlin Sci-Fi Filmfest. ost recently, she worked as scientific coordinator of an interdisciplinary research project on AI and human responsibility at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and as programme director of the Present Futures Forum at the Technical University Berlin. She has been a member of the board of the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin since December 2021.
On the core topic of European sovereignty with Dr. phil. Martin C. Wolff
Dr. phil. Martin C. Wolff works as an entrepreneur and scientist in Berlin. Since 2016, he has been teaching at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and at Beuth Hochschule für Technik on philosophy, digital economy and ethics in the digital age. He publishes in economic and scientific publishing houses.
He completed his studies of various humanities and social sciences, business administration and law in Berlin, Hagen and Freiburg with a master’s degree. After training as a communication trainer and martial arts training, he trained police and law enforcement officers in communication, de-escalation and mission-related self-defense at the Berlin Academy of Administration from 2004-2014. With his dissertation “Seriousness and Decision” he developed a basic philosophical theory of conflict. He holds a master’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in supervision and pastoral psychology.
He has been on the CNSS board since 2016 and its chairman since 2019, as well as the director of the International Clausewitz Center (ICZ) at the German Armed Forces Command and Staff College since 2021.
On the core topic of legally secure space with Anna Graf
Foundation Metaverse Europe Position Paper on Legally Secure Space in the Metaverse by Anna Graf
Anna Graf is a Strategic Consultant at Arvato Systems, responsible for building up the Web3 portfolio and advising on internal and external projects. She is part of Bertelsmann’s “Web3 Leadership Circle” and helps coordinate the topics and common direction internally. Originally from the art world (Director NFT at Expanded.art), culture and art remain two of her favorite areas when it comes to NFTs, even if they are now being tapped for all other divisions in the group (RTL, BMG, PRH). At Arvato Systems, she is currently focusing on loyalty. She is also on the board of the Hanseatic Blockchain Institute, where she works with other members to promote greater education, synergies, and adoption of blockchain.
On the core topic of digital ownership with Lennart Blödorn
UPDATE ON THE CORE TOPIC “WEB3, CRYPTO AND DIGITAL OWNERSHIP” BY LENNART BLÖDORN
Lennart already had a soft spot for mobile apps during his school days. First as a user, later as a developer himself, and much later as co-founder of a development company for mobile app solutions. As a graduate in business administration, his home is the start-up scene. In 2019, he traded the web2 for the web3 world, where he has since been working on his own projects related to blockchain, NFTs, and metaverse. In addition to the use of NFTs as digital collectibles as well as the tokenization of tangible assets, Lennart deals with different business models in the industry and publishes around the topic of web3 and Metaverse.
On the core topic of shaping democracy with Prof. Dr. Matthias Quent
Dr. Matthias Quent is Professor of Sociology and Chairman of the Institute for Democratic Culture at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. He researches and teaches, among other things, on democracy, civil society, social justice, and right-wing extremism in the context of social change – especially in the context of ecological and digital transformation. In particular, Matthias Quent examines implications, design options, and risks of the metaverse as the future of the Internet. Matthias Quent leads the immersive democracy project and is one of the founders of the European Metaverse Research Network.
Prof. Quent is active as an expert and reviewer for various institutions. He is also a best-selling author, speaker, expert in demand in the media and consultant. In 2023, he was appointed as a member of the Expert Commission for the preparation of the Fourth Engagement Report of the Federal Government. Quent was also the founding director of the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society in Jena and the nationwide Research Institute for Social Cohesion.
Photo: Sio Motion
On the core topic of sustainability by Cosima Gulde
Foundation Metaverse Europe Position Paper on Metaverse and Sustainability by Cosima Gulde
Cosima Gulde is a Senior Innovation Consultant responsible for building the Open Innovation ecosystem at Siemens. One of the goals here is to make industry more sustainable through the Industrial Metaverse. Previously, she supported the strategic positioning of the group in Web3 and AI at Arvato Systems and Bertelsmann.
As a Guest Lecturer, she teaches on innovation and change management at the TH Lübeck. She is particularly interested in the interaction between man and machine – from the metaverse to NFTs to AI and robotics, users and technology always result in an exciting symbiosis. She also conducted research on this at the London School of Economics (LSE).
On the core topic “Man 1.0 in Web 4.0” Richard Georg Graf
FOUNDATION METAVERSE EUROPE POSITION PAPER ON HUMAN 1.0 IN WEB 4.0 BY RICHARD GEORG GRAF
Richard Georg Graf works as Head of Decision-Making Management (DMM) at the INeKO Institute at the University of Cologne and teaches a Studium universale at the University for Digital Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry Luxembourg.
He strives for people to have a chance to do well. As a conscious person, he is actively committed to peaceful coexistence. His passion for art and culture open up insights for him, and as a yoga instructor he gets in touch with himself and the world.
The affinity for Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence is based on his early contact with information technology. As early as 1975, he was programming on one of the first computers available, the Zuse Z23. From 1979, he was involved in the marketing of search engines and the development of neural networks. In 1991, Richard Georg Graf founded his first IT company for large analytical systems, such as the employment statistics of the Federal Employment Agency. His experience is based on 200 projects he led as project and multi-project manager as well as 80 change and transformation projects in companies.
He has been conducting research on the human decision-making process since 1993, then exclusively from 2010. He discovered the neurobiological inseparability and neuronal interaction of body, emotions, intuition and cognition (KiE) and developed Decision-Making Management for jointly supported team decisions based on this, published by Hanser Verlag 2018: Die neue Entscheidungskultur.
Richard Georg Graf taught at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main for Economics: Strategic Management, at the European University Frankfurt (Oder) Viadrina for Cultural Studies: Language Use and Therapeutic Communication and at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg for Engineering Sciences: The New Decision Strategy in the Digital Age.
However, his roots are in his parents’ craft business and his passion is for conscious people who decide and act in a self-organized and self-responsible manner.
