In April 2026, FORUM8 exhibited at Milano Design Week 2026, the world's biggest design event.

Under the theme "FORUM8 — Experience the Moon. Design the Future.", we launched future experiences to the world, integrating XR, digital twin, GNSS, communication, and simulation technologies.

FORUM8 proposed new possibilities for engineering middleware centered around UC-win/Road. We presented its vision for the future as a platform integrating diverse data and systems, including city, transportation, disaster prevention, environment, and communication.

UC-win/Road is not just simple VR software, but a middleware platform that continues to evolve by connecting diverse data and technologies. It integrates digital twins, GNSS, communication networks, structural analysis, XR, and the metaverse, providing an environment where users can intuitively and logically understand what is happening where and how it spreads.

We showcased UC-win/Road, Shade3D, F8VPS, ForumSync, Engineer’s Studio®, FEMLEEG®, UC-1 products, and F8-AI®, introducing engineering software products from Japan.

We shared our initiative to streamline architectural design, structural safety, environmental performance, and visualization, supporting the entire process from design to consensus-building and operation.

Our booth showcased a lunar surface driving simulator and a 360-degree space walking simulator, allowing visitors to experience future space environments and new mobility, while sensing the possibilities of XR and simulation technologies.

Interactive exhibits drew great interest at the exhibition corner, featuring a lunar surface construction simulator and a 360-degree space walking simulator. Some visitors even competed for the fastest completion time on the lunar surface construction simulator, allowing visitors of all ages to enjoy experiencing next-generation simulation technology.

A gesture-driven driving simulator was also popular, attracting strong interest from many visitors as a new interface for intuitive operation without a steering wheel or controller.

The lunar surface, an extreme environment, embodies terrestrial challenges such as disaster prevention, the environment, communications, and energy. FORUM8 will apply the insights gained from this exhibition back into social infrastructure, advancing engineering technologies that contribute to disaster prevention and environmental sustainability.

We will continue to create new value by integrating design, simulation, XR, and digital twin technologies, delivering engineering software from Japan to the world.

Presentations and networking events held during the exhibition fostered connections with visitors and stakeholders from around the world. As an international platform for sharing future technologies and ideas, the exhibition created numerous valuable connections and new networks.

Milano Design Week is recognized as an international event where design, architecture, art, and technology converge. The event attracted a diverse range of visitors—including architects, designers, researchers, educators, and business leaders—who engaged in active discussions on future urban development, XR applications, and the potential of digital twins.

The presentations drew a large audience, followed by a lively Q&A session and a meaningful exchange of ideas. Shade3D presentations by Italian students were also well received, drawing warm applause from the audience.

Our exhibition at Milano Design Week 2026 was run by the FORUM8 International Team composed of partners in Japan, Italy, and around the world.

Crossing borders and disciplines, team members joined forces across every stage—from planning and setup to operation, presentations, and visitor engagement—to deliver our technology and vision to countless attendees.

Engaging and exchanging ideas with people from around the world forged valuable new connections. The networks built across borders, cultures, and disciplines empower our global initiative.

We will continue to promote engineering software and its potential from Japan to the world, taking on the challenge of creating new value.

On the first day, we hosted our annual netThe live sushi demonstration by the Japanese restaurant "Osaka" sparked spontaneous interactions among the guests. A presentation delivered by a local Italian student was also very well received; visitors showed keen interest in Shade3D's rich features, and the venue erupted in applause—a lively reaction distinctly different from what we usually see in Japan. Combining exhibition, interactive experiences, and presentations, our booth served as a unique hub for international exchange distinct to Milano Design Week.

We were joined at our booth by Mr. Lino Garbellini, an Italian journalist, educator, and writer. For over 15 years, he has been highlighting the appeal of digital technology, social media, and the mobility sector through articles, books, and lectures. With a deep interest in cars and sports, he continues to report and write about technology through these lenses.

During the event, he took on his first interview in Japanese at our booth. Although it was unfamiliar to him, he actively engaged with visitors and staff, captivating them with his intellectual curiosity and passion for Japanese culture.

Instagram: lgarbell

FORUM8 has opened a new base "FORUM8 Milano Office" near Milan, Italy. While our operations were previously centered in Rome, our expanding involvement in events such as Milan Design Week has led us to establish a stronger presence in Milan.

The new office is housed within a partner design firm. The space is located in a building historically tied to a family who once ran a hospital. We repurposed it into a sophisticated design office while preserving elements of its history. Showcasing a unique fusion of history and creativity, the design incorporates features like an X-ray film illuminator (Schaukasten) as a decorative highlight. Going forward, we will accelerate our global expansion, utilizing Europe as a hub for international exchange and sharing insights in the fields of design, XR, and digital twins.

(Up&Coming '26 Summer issue)