Simon Gunkel

Dr. Simon N.B. Gunkel is a Senior R&D Scientist at TNO and a recognized innovator in immersive media, Extended Reality (XR), and next-generation communication technologies. With more than 14 years of experience spanning research, engineering, and standardization, he helps bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and real-world deployment.
His work focuses on photorealistic immersive communication, holographic media, multimodal systems, and the infrastructure required to power scalable XR experiences. He has led the development of end-to-end communication platforms that combine real-time 3D capture, AI-assisted processing, 5G and networking technologies, and
rendering to create more natural and engaging remote interactions.

Combining hands-on innovation with industry leadership, Simon has contributed more than 90 technical submissions to 3GPP SA4, helping shape the standards that will enable the future of immersive communication and media experiences. He has played leading roles in major European and national innovation programmes, including VRTogether, Social XR, and holographic communication initiatives.

Simon holds a PhD in Computer Science from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focused on Social XR and holographic communication systems, and earned master's degrees from both Technical University Berlin and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). He is an IEEE Senior Member, inventor on multiple patents, and a frequent speaker on the future of immersive experiences, digital presence, and the evolution of communication beyond the screen.