UNC Greensboro To Launch Regional Virtual Reality Center With Prestigious Grant

In a groundbreaking move, UNC Greensboro (UNCG) has been selected as one of only three U. S. universities to launch a regional virtual reality center, thanks to a 2025 university grant from Virtualware and HTC VIVE. This prestigious funding will enable UNCG, along with UCLA and the Illinois Institute of Technology, to establish cutting-edge extended reality centers that will drive innovative research, collaboration, and workforce development in their respective regions.

The new Spartan Immersive Systems Collaboratory (SISC) at UNCG will be a hub for extended reality (XR) innovation, where students, faculty, and industry and government partners will come together to develop the workforce of the future. According to UNCG Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement Sherine O. Obare, “Extended reality is accelerating discovery in every field, from health to engineering to the arts.” This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way people learn, work, and interact with one another.

The SISC will adopt a shared-access model, offering regional industry and government organizations free use of the facility’s immersive infrastructure to spur joint research and innovation. This collaborative approach will elevate the virtual reality experience from an individual activity to a group-based learning environment, as noted by Motahareh Pourbehz ← →