Reality Check: Why the U.S. Government Should Nurture XR Development

The paper examines how these governments are creating the enabling environment necessary for XR to flourish by investing in research and innovation, establishing regulatory certainty, and building trust for data-driven technologies like XR. By contrast, the U.S. has not put forward a vision for XR, despite its importance to the economy and national security, and risks falling behind other global competitors.

As the paper details, China and South Korea have developed national strategies for XR and the metaverse, investing billions of dollars into research and development. Key XR components are also a part of Beijing’s Made in China 2025 strategy and essential to South Korea’s comprehensive Digital New Deal strategy. Meanwhile, in Europe and the UK, policymakers have set out a strategic vision for XR through initiatives on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds and a national Cyber-Physical Infrastructure, respectively.

This report outlines what the U.S. government must and should do to strengthen its competitiveness in XR and maintain its position as a top technology innovator globally.