Bitkom Presents Eight-Point Plan and Guide to Establish Germany as a Leader in the Industrial Metaverse

• Bitkom publishes proposals to make Germany a leader in the Industrial Metaverse
• Guide shows concrete use cases and opportunities of the Industrial Metaverse for interested companies

Berlin, September 19, 2023 – Playing through a production malfunction under real conditions with employees, simulating the conversion of a machine using its digital image in advance or carrying out virtual product tests – these are all possibilities that the Metaverse should offer companies in the future. From the perspective of the digital association Bitkom, this industrial metaverse is a central lever for remaining economically leading in the industry, solving social problems and becoming more ecologically and socially sustainable. To ensure that this is successful, Bitkom has presented an eight-point plan for the Industrial Metaverse and published a guide that aims to provide interested companies with an understanding of the areas of application of the Industrial Metaverse, the very specific benefits for their own company and the potential for Germany as a business location. “The Industrial Metaverse can be used to build on Germany’s industrial strengths and developments in the area of ​​Industry 4.0. However, the fields of application extend beyond the area of ​​industrial production and also concern, for example, infrastructure, energy or transport systems,” says Dr. Sebastian Klöß, Metaverse expert at Bitkom.

In order for Germany to become a leader in the Industrial Metaverse by 2030, Bitkom’s eight-point plan proposes, among other things, the federal government’s own Industrial Metaverse strategy, which is also integrated into European and international initiatives. At the same time, there must be restraint in new regulatory projects, since the industrial metaverse in Germany must develop in highly regulated fields in which, for example, labor law and protection, data protection or civil and commercial law already set strict limits. It is also particularly important to avoid fragmentation into isolated, incompatible systems. Instead, existing international technologies, standards and norms should be built upon. In addition, it is recommended that the metaverse and the associated technologies such as virtual and augmented reality be given greater consideration in research funding and that exchange with startups be promoted. “The Industrial Metaverse can make an important contribution to addressing the shortage of skilled workers. Spatial boundaries are being removed, so that companies in rural regions, for example, can also rely on a huge pool of skilled workers,” says Klöß.

In the guide “Industrial Metaverse. “Use cases, added value and potential for Germany as a business location”, the term “Industrial Metaverse” and the connection with Industry 4.0 or concepts such as the digital twin are first explained. It then looks at examples of possible applications, such as the virtual planning of entire production facilities, the tracking of products throughout the entire supply chain or the time- and cost-saving and at the same time climate-friendly remote viewing of real estate. This is followed by concrete use cases in which the industrial metaverse already plays a role, such as the digital twin of the Deutsche Bahn rail network, the urban planning platform from Siemens or the digital factories of the car manufacturer BMW. Finally, interested companies will find a brief overview of the technical requirements and standards that need to be observed in the Industrial Metaverse.