The partnership provides initial investments of over 50 million Euro and will employ more than 100 researchers

The project will encompass industrial research and experimental development of devices underlying a new generation of wearables which are capable of autonomous network connection. It is a pioneering and tangible project that will enable the development of technologies and services by means of a widely used interface such as eyewear.

The EssilorLuxottica Smart Eyewear Lab will initially last five years and will employ when fully operational over 100 among researchers and scientists working closely together in a dedicated space within the Innovation District, which the Politecnico di Milano is currently developing in the Parco dei Gasometri, located in the Bovisa area in Milan. 

 EssilorLuxottica Smart Eyewear Lab’s industrial research and experimental development will manage analysis and development of electronic and photonic components, algorithms to acquire, process and offer real-world information via augmented reality to the user. Their development will integrate the technology within various prototype glasses,by developing materials, charging systems and algorithms to certify their performance in real environments.

Politecnico di Milano Rector Ferruccio Resta said the move will start to unlock the properties of the  metaverse which is going to be more complex and ground breaking than anyone first thought. 

Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica Francesco Milleri said: “The lines between physical and virtual worlds are becoming increasingly blurred, outlining completely unprecedented horizons and offering a unique challenge that will propel us into the future. These new models are keys for unlocking an enormous potential of development for the job market and the entire economic system.”