Cross-innovation trip to Ars Electronica 2026

It all starts with a misunderstanding.

One person is talking about human-robot interaction, another about empathy. The terms could hardly sound more different. For a moment, it seems as though the two people are talking past each other. But then it becomes clear: both are addressing the same question—how technology must be designed so that people trust it and enjoy interacting with it.

It was precisely these kinds of moments that defined the “Creativity meets Robotic” cross-innovation journey, which Bayern Innovativ organized in September 2026 to the Ars Electronica festival in Linz (AT). For three days, robotics companies, creative professionals, universities, researchers, and innovation stakeholders came together. They are all united by an interest in new technologies and their applications. However, their approaches, experiences, and technical jargon differ significantly.

Robotics companies seek technical solutions and ways to build acceptance. CreativeTech stakeholders focus on human perception and experience. Researchers work with models, methods, and findings. Innovation stakeholders think in terms of networks, knowledge transfer, and ecosystems. Even if they do not automatically speak the same language, they all pursue a common goal.

Ars Electronica as a Resonance Space

Ars Electronica was not merely the destination of the journey, but its central resonance space. The exhibits, installations, and performances were not the sole focus in isolation. What mattered most were the conversations they sparked: about technology and trust, about human and robotic capabilities, about art, design, and social responsibility.

The journey was designed as a deliberately structured process. Eight coordinated steps—from the selection of participants through the change of location and the element of surprise to workshops, translation, joint goal-setting, follow-up, and community-building—created the framework for new encounters and shifts in perspective.

When Technical Terms Become Shared Questions

It became clear in the workshops: Creative Tech not only makes technologies more appealing, but often also more understandable, accessible, and interoperable. The contribution of Creative Tech practitioners doesn’t begin with the visual design of a finished product. It starts with the question of which needs, experiences, and expectations are incorporated into the development process.

While some discussed technical functions and potential applications, others raised questions about trust, perception, and suitability for everyday use. Among other things, the discussion centered on how much “personality” a robot needs for people to want to interact with it, and what safe spaces are needed in a world that is both interconnected and confusing. There was also a discussion about whether machines need a body for us to truly engage with them, or whether a voice, a glance, or a sound is sufficient. Another central question was what makes an object or a machine in a space trustworthy, even before it does anything at all. Finally, the discussion turned to what the “superpowers” of robots are and what special abilities distinguish humans.

At first, the perspectives seemed to be far apart. However, as they worked together, these differences became productive: Engaging with the technical concept of Human-Robot Interaction encouraged the participants to reflect on how closeness, trust, and social presence can be realized in this interaction. Starting from the question of user acceptance, they also developed concrete ideas about how this can be experienced and what emotional and design possibilities arise from it.
The workshops thus became spaces for translation. The participants explained terms from their respective fields, listened to one another, and used these exchanges to develop shared questions. In the process, it became clear time and again that different technical terms often conceal a similar underlying concern.

Initial Project Ideas at the Intersections

The discussion gave rise to the first concrete project ideas: One idea was to develop an artistic project in which robotics enables new forms of expression and art is expanded through movement, sensor technology, or interaction. Another approach combined fine motor skills, digital twins, and serious gaming to make robotics more empathetic and tangible.

In addition, the idea emerged to examine autonomous robots in public spaces more closely: How should they present themselves, move, and communicate with people when they encounter them without having given their explicit consent beforehand? What design creates orientation and trust without feigning a human personality?

Thus, what began as an initial get-together became a starting point for concrete collaboration. For robotics companies and research institutions, the exchange opened up new perspectives on user experience, human-machine relationships, and societal acceptance. As a result, technological developments can be more closely aligned with human needs and societal expectations.
For CreativeTech stakeholders, new fields of application emerged for their expertise. At the same time, they gained access to potential partners in technology and research and were able to contribute their perspectives to development processes at an early stage.
For the innovation ecosystem, a sustainable exchange emerged between technology, research, and Creative Tech. The dialogue bridged different ways of thinking and working, fostered new collaborations, and thereby laid the foundation for innovative solutions that are socially relevant.

The journey doesn’t end in Linz

The three days were not an ending, but a beginning. The next step is to deepen connections, flesh out project ideas, and further develop potential collaborations. Bilateral discussions, initial concept sketches, and the exploration of funding and implementation opportunities form the foundation for this.

Bayern Innovativ will continue to actively support this process. “Creativity meets Robotic” has shown that innovation begins when different people are willing to truly listen to one another. This requires not only bridges, but also people who can translate between worlds.
The trip was organized by the CreativeTechHUB of Bayern Innovativ GmbH in cooperation with Ars Electronica and the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development, and Energy (StMWi).