S+T+ARTS EC(H)O Residency Programme
Fostering innovation at the intersection of Science, Technology, and the Arts (S+T+ARTS).
ABOUT S+T+ARTS EC(H)O:
S+T+ARTS EC(H)O is a project launched as part of the S+T+ARTS initiative with the objective of promoting ecologically conscious and human-compatible digital technology. Through this initiative, we aim to drive the triple transformation – social, green, and digital – by supporting artists in developing innovative solutions that blend art, science, and technology.
+ Residencies Programme
The S+T+ARTS EC(H)O Residency Programme offers selected artists the opportunity to participate in a 13-month residency starting from December 2024. During the residency, artists will receive funding, guidance, access to experts, and participation in various events aimed at accelerating the impact of their projects.
This open call offers 10 residency opportunities hosted in Germany, Austria, and France. Each Residency Host Institution has defined specific challenges in collaboration with the S+T+ARTS EC(H)O Consortium. Artists are invited to submit project proposals that respond to these challenges, addressing various areas of innovation.
+ Innovation Areas :
(1) Data Simulation & Visualisation – utilizing advanced algorithms and technologies to simulate and visually represent complex datasets for improved analysis and decision-making.
(2) High-Performance Computing – leveraging powerful computing systems to process vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently, enabling complex calculations and simulations.
(3) (Urban) Digital Twins – creating digital replicas of physical environments or systems, such as cities, to monitor, analyse, and optimize their performance in real-time.
(4) Clean Tech/Circular Economy – developing innovative solutions and practices to minimize waste, reduce environmental impact, and promote the efficient use of resources.
(5) Artificial Intelligence – harnessing algorithms and machine learning techniques to automate tasks, make predictions, and derive insights from data in various domains.
(6) Bio and Life Sciences & Medical Technologies – research and technologies in biology, life sciences, and medical fields to understand biological systems, develop medical treatments, and improve human health and well-being.
+ What do we offer ?
40.000 € funding for artists residencies
- Up to 40.000 EUR budget for artists residencies to cover the project;
- Guidance and support by the S+T+ARTS EC(H)O Residency Host Institutions;
- Access to experts provided by the STARTS EC(H)O Consortium;
- An incubation programme to support the residency teams in kickstarting the pilots and nurturing them to accelerate their impact. The program will consist of 8-10 shared training & peer exchange sessions throughout the piloting period, about 24 overall hours of individual mentoring (support by email included) according to artists’ needs, and a STARTS impact accelerator workshop at the end of the residency cycle;
- An impact assessment to evaluate the potential impact of the new and innovative ideas, scenarios and prototypes developed. For this, an hour-long interview (online, recorded and transcribed) will be run with the selected artists at the beginning and at the end of their residency to discuss their expectations and expected impacts. These interviews will not be made public and will not be used for dissemination or communication purposes.
+ MEET THE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE
After a rigorous selection process by our jury members, 10 winning artists were selected from nearly 130 application from across Europe and partner countries.
+ Discover there work
Challenge #1: MODELLING THE MIND
Challenge #2: EXPLORING HUMAN – AI RELATIONSHIPS
Challenge #3: EXPLORING THE PHYSICS OF LIFE
Country: Germany
Country: Germany
Country: Germany
Challenge #4: EUROPEAN SPACE POLICY IN THE AGE OF SUSTAINABILITY
Country: Austria
Challenge #5: VIRTUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF USERS
Country: Germany
Challenge #6: TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS INSPIRED BY NATURE
Country: Germany
Country: Germany
Country: Germany & Austria
Country: Austria
Country: France
+ Winner’s projects
Theda Nilsson (In diese Welt geworfen / Thrown into This World)
Hosted by TU Dresden, Theda investigates human adaptation to synthetic worlds, reflecting on cognitive shifts and life-altering changes. Her innovative theater project reimagines performance at the nexus of art and technology.
Johanna Bruckner (The Perfect Perfect Dirty)
Partnering with Ars Electronica, Johanna challenges narratives of AI cleanliness. Her project reimagines artificial intelligence through a queer lens, exploring contamination and inclusion as central themes.
Carolyn Kirschner (Zebrafish: Interspecies Futures)
Working with TU Dresden, Carolyn speculates on hybrid human-zebrafish ecosystems. Her project merges computational art and biomolecular science to imagine interspecies connections and futures.
Kyriaki Goni (Sensing the Heat)
At ESPI, Kyriaki combines satellite imagery with creative storytelling to highlight the role of space technologies in tackling climate challenges. Her work integrates human, plant, and machine intelligence for sustainable urban resilience.
Bernat Cuní (VR Terroir)
In partnership with HLRS and the Media Solution Center, Bernat creates hyperlocal VR/AR avatars rooted in European cultural heritage and scientific visualisations data. His work critiques the uniformity of corporate-driven avatar design, and explores interactions through localized and context-aware digital identities.
Oliver Kruse (Looping)
Hosted by HLRS and the Media Solution Center, Oliver draws inspiration from nature’s aerodynamics, translating the maple seed’s effortless flight into a large-scale flying sculpture. His project combines artistic vision with advanced computational modeling.
Dr. Kirell Benzi (HPC Data Symphonies)
At the HLRS and Media Solution Center, Kirell transforms high-performance computing (HPC) logs into immersive WebVR visualizations. His work explores real-time data interaction through clustering algorithms and local language models, merging aesthetics and technology.
Merve Sahin (Merging Visions)
Collaborating with Salzburg Festival, HLRS and the Media Solution Center, Merve integrates XR technologies with urban digital twins to create immersive visual narratives. Her work brings socio-cultural and ecological dimensions of urban environments to life.
Iz Paehr (Feeling Virtual: An Archive of Touch)
Hosted by Salzburg Festival and Ars Electronica, Iz redefines VR experiences by foregrounding haptics and accessibility. Their project creates custom controllers and haptic sculptures to invite diverse sensory interactions with digital cultural archives.
Côme Di Meglio (Breathing Architectures)
Partnering with La French Tech Grande Provence, Côme constructs biophilic, mycelium-based architectural domes. His work fosters community connection and ecological awareness, merging organic materials with digital design.
+ Contact
For any questions or assistance regarding the STARTS EC(H)O Residencies Programme, please contact us at startsecho@starts.eu.
Technical support is available for solving any issues encountered during the application process.
Discover more about S+T+ARTS EC(H)O
STARTS EC(H)O is co-funded by the European Union under the STARTS – Science, Technology and Arts initiative of DG CNECT (GA no.-101135691). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG CNECT. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
