UN Virtual Worlds Day 2025 - Delivering on the Pact for the Future
Welcome to the 2nd UN Virtual Worlds Day!
The 2nd UN Virtual Worlds Day is a global gathering that brings together leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to explore the transformative potential of virtual worlds in addressing global challenges. Co-organized by ITU, FAO, ITCILO, UN Tourism, UNICEF, UNESCWA, UNECE, United Nations Guatemala, UNICC, UNRISD, UNU, the World Bank, and WIPO, this event serves as a platform to advance discussions on how virtual technologies can drive sustainable development, foster inclusivity, and shape the future of digital public infrastructure. Taking place on 11-12 June 2025 in Turin, Italy, the event will feature high-level dialogues, interactive showcases, and collaborative sessions. Participation is free of charge and open to experts, organizations, and individuals from all sectors. Join us to shape the future of virtual worlds.
Draft programme
Day 1 – 11 June 2025
9:30 - 10:00 Opening Ceremony
The opening remarks will feature senior representatives of the UN and set the stage for two days of transformative discussions.
10:00 - 11:00 Ministerial Segment: Pioneering Virtual Worlds Policies for the Pact of the Future
The Ministerial Segment provides a high-level platform for leaders to share progress, challenges, and best practices in integrating virtual world innovations into national development strategies. Discussions will emphasize global collaboration, policy innovation, and strategic investments to bridge technological divides, empower communities, and drive sustainable growth, inspiring actionable commitments to support the Pact for the Future.
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 – 12:30 Award Ceremony of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge
This ceremony honors the winners of the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge, recognizing groundbreaking and impactful virtual world solutions that empower communities and advance sustainable development.
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 14:30 Youth Panel: Designing the Future of Cities and Communities
This dynamic session brings together young innovators and start-ups to present ideas from the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge, showcasing how virtual worlds can shape inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban spaces. Highlighting youth and start-ups as drivers of innovation, it explores their role in addressing global challenges, advancing sustainable urban development through virtual worlds, and contributing to pre-standardization efforts by identifying key parameters and best practices to guide the development of global frameworks for virtual ecosystems.
14:30 – 15:30 Virtual Worlds Economy: Jobs, Growth, and Innovation
This session will explore the economic potential of virtual worlds, focusing on opportunities such as decentralized workforces, global collaboration, and new revenue streams through digital assets and marketplaces. Speakers will address challenges like regulation, inclusion, equitable growth, and the need for interoperability and alignment with international standards to ensure cohesive and accessible digital economies. Success stories from innovators and policymakers will provide actionable insights into how virtual worlds can drive transformative opportunities for individuals, businesses, and countries globally.
16:00 – 17:00 Transforming Industries Through Virtual Worlds: Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing, and Beyond
This session will explore the transformative role of virtual worlds across industries, highlighting applications for cultural preservation, sustainable agriculture, and advancements in manufacturing. Discussions will include actionable strategies, case studies, and expert insights while emphasizing contributions to pre-standardization efforts, ensuring interoperability and cohesive frameworks for global adoption of virtual worlds across industries.
Day 2 – 12 June 2025
9:30 – 9:40 Opening remarks
A brief recap of Day 1 and an overview of Day 2 sessions, led by the Master of Ceremonies.
9:40 – 10:40 Bridging the Digital Divide: Virtual Worlds and Digital Twins in the Global South
This session will explore how virtual worlds and digital twins can revolutionize infrastructure, workforce development, and economic resilience in the Global South. Case studies and expert insights will highlight innovative solutions, including tools that support community-driven innovation and creativity, to bridge the digital divide, enhance accessibility, and drive sustainable development.
10:40 – 11:00 Keynote
The keynote will inspire participants by highlighting visionary perspectives on virtual worlds, addressing their potential to drive innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable development. It aims to spark impactful dialogue and energize participants for the discussions and collaborations ahead.
11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break
11:30 – 12:30 Co-Creation Workshops: Strategic Visioning for Virtual Worlds
These interactive workshops invite participants to collaborate on innovative solutions to pressing challenges. Focus areas include digital infrastructure, inclusion, and cross-sector collaboration. The session will also feature strategic foresight techniques to envision the future of virtual ecosystems. The result is expected to be submitted as an input to Second World Summit for Social Development 2025.
12:30 – 13:30 Lunch break
13:30 – 14:00 Innovating Together: Insights from the Co-Creation Workshops
This session will unveil key insights and outcomes from the Co-Creation Workshops, showcasing innovative ideas and collaborative strategies developed by participants. It will highlight forward-thinking approaches to addressing challenges in virtual worlds, which are expected to serve as input for the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025.
14:00 – 15:00 Human Rights in the Intelligent Era: Advancing Equity, Inclusion, and Resilience
This session will tackle the pressing social and human rights challenges posed by the rapidly evolving virtual world landscape. Key topics include safeguarding privacy, ensuring accessibility for marginalized populations, and promoting digital equity to bridge gaps in participation and opportunity. Best practices from global initiatives will be shared, showcasing how innovative policies and collaborative efforts can foster resilience and equity in the virtual worlds.
15:00 – 16:30 Global Roundtable on AI-Powered Virtual Worlds and the Citiverse
As AI-driven virtual worlds and the Citiverse evolve, they offer transformative opportunities for governance, industry, and society. This high-level roundtable will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and urban digital twins.
16:30 – 17:00 Coffee break
17:00 – 17:30 Closing ceremony: A Call to Action for the Intelligent Age
The event concludes with a powerful call to action, summarizing key takeaways and setting a roadmap for global collaboration. UN representatives will deliver closing remarks to inspire collective efforts in advancing the Pact for the Future and leveraging virtual worlds to create a sustainable, equitable and trustworthy digital future for all.