Université Laval Delivers a Multi-Day Conference with Built-In Networking and Sponsor Engagement on SpatialChat

Reimagining a Multi-Day Academic Conference Online

Université Laval set out to host a four-day international academic conference designed to bring together researchers, academics, and sponsors in a virtual setting. With approximately four hours of programming each day and a total audience ranging between 100 and 200 participants, the event required a format that could sustain engagement across multiple sessions and days.

Rather than relying on traditional webinar platforms, the university chose SpatialChat to create a more dynamic conference experience. The goal was to move beyond linear presentations and enable a format where attendees could actively explore, interact, and connect throughout the event. This shift was particularly important for a multi-day conference, where maintaining participant engagement over time depends heavily on interaction, not just content delivery.

A Conference Environment Built for Exploration

The event was structured as a multi-room SpatialChat environment that mirrored the layout of an in-person conference. Dedicated areas were created for presentations, networking, and sponsor interactions, allowing different types of engagement to occur simultaneously.

Attendees navigated the environment freely, moving between sessions and discussion areas based on their interests. This non-linear participation model enabled participants to customize their experience rather than follow a fixed agenda from start to finish.

The same environment was used across all four days, creating continuity for returning participants. This persistence allowed attendees to become familiar with the layout, making it easier to re-engage with sessions and reconnect with other participants over time.

Continuous Interaction Through Spatial Design

SpatialChat’s core interaction model played a central role in shaping attendee behavior. Spatial audio enabled multiple conversations to take place in parallel, allowing small groups to engage in focused discussions without disrupting others.

Throughout the event, attendees formed clusters of three to six participants, engaging in conversations alongside or between formal sessions. These interactions were not confined to scheduled networking slots but occurred continuously across the environment.

Movement within SpatialChat allowed participants to explore these conversations organically. By approaching a group, they could listen in and join; by moving away, they could transition to another discussion. This fluidity recreated the informal networking dynamics typically seen in conference hallways and breakout spaces. The result was a layered experience where structured sessions and informal discussions coexisted, increasing overall interaction and participation.

Sponsor Visibility Integrated into the Experience

A key requirement for the conference was ensuring meaningful sponsor visibility. Instead of limiting sponsors to static placements or brief mentions, SpatialChat enabled the creation of dedicated sponsor zones within the environment. These areas functioned as interactive spaces where attendees could engage directly with sponsors, ask questions, and participate in conversations. Sponsor interactions became part of the natural flow of the event, rather than a separate or isolated component.

Participants visited these zones as they moved through the environment, resulting in consistent exposure and engagement. This approach aligned sponsor presence with attendee behavior, making interactions more organic and effective.

Measurable Engagement Across Four Days

The four-day structure provided a clear view of sustained engagement within the SpatialChat environment. Each day maintained active participation across sessions and networking areas, with attendees returning to engage in new discussions and revisit ongoing conversations.

At any given time, the environment supported multiple simultaneous interaction clusters, ensuring that engagement was distributed rather than concentrated. Participants moved between sessions and discussions frequently, increasing both session exposure and interaction time.

Compared to traditional webinar formats, this setup resulted in significantly higher real-time participation. Attendees were not limited to listening—they actively contributed to discussions, asked questions, and engaged with peers and sponsors throughout the event. The ability to host parallel conversations while maintaining a cohesive environment was also a key factor in supporting engagement at this scale.

From Linear Agendas to Dynamic Conference Flow

Before adopting SpatialChat, virtual academic conferences often relied on linear agendas with limited opportunities for interaction. While effective for delivering content, these formats struggle to replicate the collaborative and exploratory nature of in-person events.

This conference demonstrated a different approach. By enabling free movement, parallel discussions, and integrated networking, SpatialChat transformed the event into a dynamic, participant-driven experience. Attendees were able to engage with content and conversations in a way that felt natural and intuitive. The flexibility to move between sessions and discussions allowed for deeper exploration and more meaningful connections.

A More Interactive Model for Academic Conferences

Université Laval’s implementation highlights how multi-day academic conferences can retain their core value in a virtual format. By combining structured programming with continuous interaction, the event created an environment where participants could learn, connect, and collaborate simultaneously.

Through SpatialChat, the conference moved beyond passive attendance and toward active participation. The result was a virtual experience that captured the essence of in-person academic events: multi-threaded, interactive, and driven by real conversations.