Voices from the field: Philippe Chan
As part of the Belgian XR Report 2025, we’re giving the floor to voices from the field. Professionals from across XR Valley’s key sectors share their views on the current state and future potential of XR in Belgium. From education to industry, culture to healthcare — where do we stand today, and where could we be headed next?
This edition: Philippe Chan (Chenext) from the perspective of Design, Engineering and Manufacturing
“With a chemical engineering background, I have been developing and implementing XR solutions for the process industry for over 6 years now. Most people don’t realise that the process industry is very essential to the economy of Belgium. It represents more than 30% of the GDP per capita (= gross domestic product per inhabitant). Our North Sea ports host the second largest (petro)chemical industries hub in the world just below Houston, Texas. This makes Belgium a key player on the world stage! Considering the product risks and the severe safety procedures involved in this industry, XR technology holds a great potential in this sector, yet its adoption in this space remains limited.”
“The process industry is known for being conservative and more careful to adopt new digital technologies - largely because the systems and methods that have worked reliably for the past 20 years continue to perform well. This makes innovation feel less urgent. XR technology, in particular, is difficult to fully grasp until you've experienced it firsthand. Unlike the rapid adoption of AI, which consumers can easily try and immediately see the value in, XR depends on several aligned factors: high-performing hardware, practical software applications, and access to clean, compact 3D data. Therefore, the key lies in developing more useful, industry-relevant XR software and demonstrating that XR isn't limited to a single use case. Instead, it can seamlessly support and enhance day-to-day tasks across the entire workplace.”
“I believe this XR report will help us uncover quick wins and key opportunities that can accelerate the progress in the XR space. This insight will help us focus our efforts on addressing the specific needs of the industry. Especially the innovation of XR hardware adapted to workplaces and integration of existing systems. Europe is known worldwide to have a strong pool of talented professionals; we have a unique opportunity to position Europe at the forefront of global XR innovation.”
Curious to learn about all insights, data, and real-world cases from Belgium’s XR ecosystem?
Check out the Belgian XR Report 2025