As urban development becomes increasingly complex, participatory planning tools are needed more than ever. SCIPLANT has created an XR-based solution that reimagines how cities engage communities in shaping their surroundings. Throughout the CORTEX2 Support Programme, the team transformed their initial concept into a robust, interactive platform that blends immersive storytelling, real-time feedback, and multi-user collaboration. With six CORTEX2 technologies now integrated and user-tested, SCIPLANT is ready for growth.
Keep reading to learn about the key achievements and future steps in SCIPLANT — Sustainable City Planning Tool in Extended Reality.
SCIPLANT’s progress on the CORTEX2 Programme
Q: How would you summarise the advances SCIPLANT has made during Phase 2 of the CORTEX2 Support Programme?
A: During Phase 2, SCIPLANT evolved from concept to a functional XR prototype with three immersive planning scenarios: Site Analysis, Virtual Tour, and Town Hall. We began integrating CORTEX2 technologies and showcased early builds at Web Summit Doha and Web Summit Rio. These demos helped shape SCIPLANT’s positioning as a real-time, feedback-enabled tool for participatory urban planning, accessible via XR headsets and Rainbow-powered webcam interfaces.
Q: What has SCIPLANT achieved now that the Programme is complete?
A: In Phase 3, SCIPLANT reached technical maturity with six fully integrated CORTEX2 services:
- Rainbow SDK (audio/video calls)
- Screensharing
- COVA (voice assistant)
- Gesture module (Sensorama)
- 3D reconstruction toolkit
- Meeting summarisation tool
We conducted our final user testing campaign at the Azul Game Jam in Lisbon, receiving feedback from 15 participants using in-headset interaction tools. We also presented the solution to global stakeholders at Japan Spring IT Week 2025. These activities confirmed the system’s readiness for pilot deployments, and we finalised our business model, IP strategy, and exploitation roadmap for post-project sustainability.
Q: What would you highlight about the Support Programme, what’s helped advance your solution the most?
A: The most impactful component of the CORTEX2 Support Programme was the Rainbow Unity SDK, which evolved significantly during our project. It enabled seamless audio/video calling and screen sharing directly inside XR, transforming SCIPLANT from a standalone urban planning tool into a truly collaborative, multi-user experience. This integration unlocked the use of COVA and the meeting summarisation tool, allowing real-time voice navigation and structured feedback capture — key to making SCIPLANT a participatory planning solution, not just a visual one.
Q: What’s the status of SCIPLANT after completing the Programme? What are your next steps?
A: SCIPLANT is now a validated prototype, tested with over 15 users across three immersive scenarios. After integrating six CORTEX2 technologies, it’s fully functional for demos and pilot deployments. Next, we aim to secure public funding and launch municipal pilots in Europe and Asia, while exploring Unity Asset Store packaging and commercial XR integrations.
Check out SCIPLANT’s previous interview and stay updated on its progress!
Want to know more about other CORTEX2 innovators’ updates? Browse all our supported teams on the CORTEX2 website:
Open Call 1 winners – Open Call 2 winners
