Information-Driven Synergies in the Metaverse and IoT Ecosystems

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid convergence of immersive digital worlds with pervasive sensing technologies has opened a transformative era in which information flows seamlessly between physical and virtual environments.

The Metaverse, envisioned as a persistent, interoperable 3D digital environment, gains unprecedented contextual awareness and real-world relevance when enriched by the Internet of Things (IoT). Conversely, IoT systems increasingly rely on the Metaverse as a unifying platform for visualization, simulation, collaboration, and decision support. This bidirectional integration, powered by real-time data analytics, AI-driven orchestration, digital twins, edge–cloud synergy, and interoperable communication frameworks, defines the heart of information-driven synergy.

Nowadays, the Metaverse and the IoT are rapidly evolving into two of the most influential technological paradigms of the coming decade. Their convergence, fuelled by real-time data flows, intelligent analytics, ubiquitous connectivity, and immersive interaction, has the potential to fundamentally reshape how individuals, machines, and virtual environments coexist and collaborate.

This Special Issue aims to explore the information-driven foundations, architectures, applications, and challenges that define the integration between the Metaverse and IoT ecosystems by bringing together pioneering research that examines how data, intelligence, and connectivity are transforming interactions, infrastructures, and value creation across these emerging socio-technical landscapes.

In this context, the Special Issue welcomes the submission of original research articles, reviews, and short communications. Within this multidisciplinary field, relevant topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Information Integration and Intelligent Data Processing: Semantic data modeling, knowledge graphs, and context-aware analytics; AI/ML techniques for fusing heterogeneous IoT and Metaverse data, real-time sensing, edge analytics, and multimodal information processing; and adaptive information flows for immersive virtual–physical environments.
• Digital Twins and Cyber–Physical–Virtual Systems: Digital twin development, synchronization, and lifecycle management; real-time mirroring of physical environments within the Metaverse; and simulation-based optimization, predictive intelligence, and system autonomy.
• Architectures, Platforms, and Interoperability: Distributed and decentralized Metaverse–IoT architectures; edge–cloud synergy, fog computing, and low-latency system design; cross-platform interoperability, standards, and middleware frameworks; and integration of blockchain, Web3, and decentralized identity mechanisms.
• Networking, Connectivity, and Infrastructure: Using 5G/6G communication technologies for immersive and data-intensive systems; ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC); and network slicing, resource allocation, and scalable communication protocols.
• Human–Computer Interaction and User Experience: XR interfaces enhanced by IoT-generated real-world context; adaptive, personalized, and multisensory interactions; and collaborative virtual environments and human–machine co-presence.
• Security, Privacy, and Trust: Authentication, identity management, and access control in hybrid spaces; data privacy, confidentiality, and secure information exchange; and cryptographic frameworks, intrusion detection, and trust modeling.
• Applications and Use Cases: Smart cities and urban digital ecosystems; Industry 5.0, smart manufacturing, and robotics; healthcare, telemedicine, and assistive virtual environments; education, entertainment, retail, and cultural heritage; and autonomous systems, mobility, and logistics.
• Social, Ethical, and Economic Implications: Ethical challenges in data-driven immersive environments; societal impacts of Metaverse–IoT convergence; and economic models, governance frameworks, and sustainability perspectives.

Dr. Eleni Symeonaki
Dr. Nelly Leligou
Dr. Evangelos M. Pallis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Information is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• metaverse
• internet of things
• human–computer interaction