Workplace training is going immersive at a rapid clip, with projects spanning construction, aviation, firefighting and tunnel maintenance demonstrating real-world savings in both cash and safety. This week alone saw several announcements that underscore how far the technology has spread.
One of the most concrete examples comes from Liverpool. In mid-July, a construction consortium tested the installation of 872 facade panels for the new Everton Stadium entirely in a digital simulation before a single crane moved on site. The software flagged ergonomic risks early, allowing the process to be redesigned. Partners estimate the exercise saved around 350,000 euros.
The Liverpool project shows how digital simulation can catch ergonomic risks early. But fire safety is another critical area where many UK employers leave themselves exposed. A free Fire Safety Toolkit provides a complete package including a risk assessment template, evacuation plan, and fire extinguisher training materials to help you stay compliant with UK regulations. Get the free Fire Safety Toolkit
In Dortmund, the
The Moravia Academy published its training catalogue for 2026 and 2027 on July 16, highlighting artificial intelligence in construction and the European Union’s AI Act as core themes.
Tokyo, Seoul and the virtual classroom
Tokyo Metro has introduced a VR application for tunnel inspection training on its Hibiya Line. Using real video footage, trainees learn to identify cracks or water ingress. The program is divided into difficulty levels for beginners and advanced learners.
In South Korea, the occupational safety authority KOSHA is expanding VR safety training for foreign workers. The key feature: falls and crush accidents are simulated visually, bypassing any language barrier. “The immersive experience sharpens hazard awareness more effectively than conventional instruction,” said KOSHA Director Woo Yong-ha.
Mixed reality takes flight
Pilot training reached a new milestone on July 17, when Germany’s Federal Aviation Office (LBA) certified the H145 XR-SIM developed by Reiser Simulation and Training. The system combines a physical cockpit with a virtual environment viewed through a head-mounted display. It will be operated at Lufthansa Aviation Training’s Frankfurt site to train pilots for DRF Luftrettung.
A day earlier, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius visited the Army’s Training and Exercise Centre for Air Mobility in Celle, which marked its tenth anniversary. The centre has long relied on simulations in virtual battle spaces and on drones.
High-voltage skills and firefighting drills
As electric vehicles proliferate, so does demand for specialists trained in high-voltage systems. Eckert Schulen now offers qualifications aligned with the guidelines of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), with funding available through the Federal Employment Agency.
Bavarian fire brigades are extending their partnership with technology group Dräger for real-fire training in mobile containers through 2028. Since the program began in 2014, roughly 16,000 firefighters have completed it. The Bavarian Interior Ministry is supporting the project with five million euros.
When a workplace accident happens, having the right risk assessment documentation can make all the difference. A free Risk Assessment Toolkit offers 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists covering fire safety, manual handling, first aid and lone working – all aligned with current UK requirements. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
Research hubs and future mobility
In Würzburg, Digital Minister Dr. Fabian Mehring opened a summer EXPO on XR research on July 17. The University of Würzburg is ranked internationally among the top institutions in the field. Since 2019, 2.5 million euros have flowed into the XR Hub Würzburg, with additional funding confirmed for 2025/2026.
In Graz, a new COMET research centre for software-defined mobility is scheduled to start operations on January 1, 2027. It will have a research volume of 24 million euros in its first four years and 44 partners from science and industry. A foretaste of its work: AI-driven driver-assistance systems for trams have already prevented collisions in Frankfurt and Zurich.
