EU: promote worldwide a European way to digital innovation rooted in culture

This call for proposals seeks to promote an alternative approach to innovation worldwide that forges synergies between art and (digital) technology and thereby fosters regional development on a social, ecological and economic level compatible with local culture and values. The European Commission believes that social and ecological priorities as well as constructive critical thinking about the impact of technology are integral to true technological and digital innovation. Building on the S+T+ARTS=STARTS programme, this current action seeks to promote art-driven innovation as an alternative joint pathway to the future for economies across different continents and cultures. The action intends to demonstrate how synergies of digital technologies with local arts, culture and traditions across different nations and continents can contribute to developing both new technologies and novel uses of technology that are ecologically-conscious. In this initial pilot phase, proposals must relate to activities taking place in a selected list of countries in either the Middle East or sub-Saharan Africa. The intention is to fund two projects, one in each of the two regions. Proposals can include the following activities (see also section 6 -eligible activities): Organise calls for STARTS residencies of artists at stakeholders (‘the hosts’) in the selected region (regional...