Win a Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition for Your Research Project or XR Lab.
The proposal deadline is now over.
Empowering the next generation of XR research.
Breakthroughs happen when the right minds have the right tools. We’re inviting universities and research institutions to submit their XR lab or project proposal for a chance to win a Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition with base station tracking and a Varjo Base Pro perpetual license — the ultimate device for pushing boundaries.
This is your opportunity to explore new frontiers in training, simulation, design, human factors, medical research, and more, using the world’s most advanced mixed reality headset.
How the competition works:
In April and May, we’ll be selecting one winning project proposal every two weeks. Each winner will receive a Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition headset with base station tracking and a Varjo Base Pro perpetual license (total value EUR/USD 15,990) to support their XR-driven research.
- Submit your vision. Fill out the application form below to tell us how you’d use the headset in your research project, classroom, or XR lab. Application deadline: May 31.
- Win a headset. Every two weeks, a winner is selected from the pool approved proposals. Winners selected and contacted: April 22, May 6, May 20, and June 3. Meet the winners here.
- Get special pricing. Even if you don’t win, approved applicants get access to a special limited-time offer on our most advanced headset to date.
Proposals will be reviewed by the Varjo team and evaluated based on innovation, research impact, feasibility, and fit with Varjo’s technology. This opportunity is open to faculty, researchers, and academic innovators in accredited universities and research institutions. Read the full terms and conditions here.
Advancing research and education with true-to-life mixed reality.
The Varjo XR-4 Series is trusted by leading universities and research institutions to drive innovation across fields like neuroscience, human factors, engineering, and medical training.
With dual 4Kx4K displays offering human-eye resolution and the world’s fastest 200 Hz integrated eye tracking, Varjo enables precise observation and deep behavioral insights—ideal for studies where detail and accuracy matter most.
Varjo headsets integrate seamlessly with popular tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, OpenXR, iMotions, and Cognitive3D, making it easy to plug into existing research workflows.
In education, Varjo brings complex concepts to life. From immersive anatomy exploration to hands-on design simulation, educators use Varjo to boost engagement and improve learning outcomes through true-to-life XR experiences.
“Varjo is the only company providing the unique, high-end features and specs we need to prototype innovative future immersive experiences.”
– Douglas Bowman,
Professor, Virginia Tech
“The high resolution of the Varjo headset combined with its eye tracking and passthrough capabilities have allowed us to simulate more realistic training scenarios with greater experimental control.”
– Michael Busa,
Director of the Center for Human Health and Performance, University of Massachusetts Amherst
“Varjo’s visual clarity, in addition to faithful color reproduction and brightness, are outstanding and ahead of any other system we have tested in the past.”
– Franco de Flaviis,
Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, UCI
“Varjo headsets are excellent tools for our cutting edge research in novel user interfaces for different fields, including automotive, medical, training, education, culture and accessibility sectors.”
– Roope Raisamo, Head of TAUCHI Research Center and Professor at the Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences, Tampere University
Meet the winners
Politecnico di Torino, Italy
VR@POLITO – Department of Control and Computer Engineering
“With its high-resolution display and high-quality passthrough, the Varjo XR-4 Focal Edition will enable us to build a more immersive and collaborative eXtended Reality environment for tabletop wildfire training scenarios. The goal is to push beyond traditional training methods and prototype new forms of spatial thinking for complex, real-world challenges.”
The Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU), Germany
“The Varjo XR-4 headset will support our student-led development of FLOAT, a Mixed Reality game that collects hand movement data through playful interaction to advance the training of intelligent prosthetic systems. The Varjo XR-4’s high-fidelity passthrough and superior hand-tracking precision enable us to create more naturalistic user experiences and immersive environments, resulting in significantly higher-quality motion data to drive our prosthetic research forward.”
Old Dominion University, United States
The Varjo XR-4 headset will enable Dr. Jessica Johnson’s Cognitive Engineering and Simulation Lab at Old Dominion University’s Office of Enterprise Research and Innovation to develop a minimal viable training product that uses high-fidelity eye tracking to model mental and cognitive workload in novice maritime trainees. This research will generate gaze-based metrics to optimize training design, enhance situational awareness, and demonstrate how emerging technologies like Varjo can upscale maritime workforce development.
University of Surrey, United Kingdom
CDT AI for Digital Media Inclusion, Surrey Institute for People-Centred Artificial Intelligence (PAI)
The Varjo XR-4 will enable PhD Researcher Luke Harris’s work in developing AI systems for cognitive-adaptive immersive media. This research will generate multimodal datasets combining the XR-4’s precision 200Hz eye tracking with EEG brain signals to train and optimise novel algorithms, advancing digital inclusion through neural interfaces.
