Open Call: Creativity meets MedTech: Cross-innovation journey to Ars Electronica 2025

Ars Electronica is one of the world's leading festivals for art, technology and society. In order to specifically promote networking between the cultural and creative industries, artists and companies from the medical technology sector, we are inviting committed creative professionals to take part in a cross-innovation trip to Ars Electronica 2025.

The trip is being organized by the Creative Industries department at Bayern Innovativ in cooperation with Ars Electronica and the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy (StMWi) is being organized. Together with medical technology companies and representatives of science, the interdisciplinary exchange between art, science and business is to be strengthened. The aim is to promote innovation processes and initiate concrete follow-up projects (e.g. collaborations or research projects).

Participation in the trip is therefore the starting point for future collaborations and projects. For particularly promising ideas and partnerships, there are opportunities for further financing through funding programs. As part of these follow-up projects, fair remuneration for the creative professionals involved is expressly provided for.

Creative professionals and artists should be involved in innovation projects as essential co-creators. They contribute unique methods, speculative thinking, technical expertise and critical perspectives that challenge existing assumptions in areas such as AI and medicine.

Participating in the cross-innovation journey to Ars Electronica will be

• 10 players from the cultural and creative industries,
• 5 to 6 companies from the medical technology and healthcare sectors and
• 3 representatives from the scientific community.

Participation for players in the cultural and creative industries is limited and will be awarded by an expert jury as part of a selection process.

Who can apply?

We are looking for creative professionals with an interest in high-tech, interdisciplinary collaboration and experience in the field of health:

• Artists from the fields of media art, digital art, interactive art and audiovisual art
• Creatives from design, architecture, gaming, film, music and related fields
• Innovators working at the interface of art, science and technology
• Companies and micro-enterprises in the eleven submarkets of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs)

Main topics of the cross-innovation journey

Lead topic:
Health: AI - human - machine - robotics - care - prevention - prostheses

The focus is on:

• Health and AI: human-machine interaction, robotics in care, AI-supported prevention, prostheses and neurotechnology
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: networking opportunities with companies from the medical sector, healthcare industry and science
• AI and digital innovation: new forms of artistic expression and creative applications of technological developments

Services offered

• Insights into one of the most renowned festivals for art and technology: Program - Ars Electronica Festival 2025: Panic
• Curated program (guided tours, speed dating, artists' meeting, innovation workshop) by the curators of the Ars Electronica Festival on the topic of health: AI - man - machine - robotics - care - prevention - prostheses
• Organization of the trip by the Creative Industries department at Bayern Innovativ and Bayern International
• Allowance for expenses for participation in the innovation workshops
• Lunch catering
• Joint dinner on September 4, 2025
• Access to exclusive networking events, workshops and panels
• Presentation opportunities for your own projects
• Direct exchange with international artists, scientists and medical technology companies

Benefits for artists and creative professionals

• Access to innovative technologies such as robotics, biohacking and neurotechnology
• Cooperation opportunities with medical technology companies for the development of new solutions
• Development of creative solutions for UX, visualization and storytelling in the healthcare industry
• Inspiration for new products and performances for the technology market
• Exchange with researchers on AI, neurotechnology and human-machine interfaces

Anne Feldmeier, Nuremberg: ignota

Mathias Hradecsni, Augsburg: Nullab Studio

Chiara Kastner, Würzburg

Felix Laarmann, Munich

Betty Mü, Munich: Studio Betty Mü

Elias Naphausen, Augsburg

Mathis Nitschke, Munich: Sofilab UG

Daniel Nusser, Stadtbergen: designflow

Alexander Peterhänsel, Munich

Shila Rastizadeh, Munich

Alexandra Rauh, Nuremberg: Brachland Ensemble

Markus Utomo, Nuremberg: BOSODO Games

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Sebastian Zaunseder, University of Augsburg

Dr. rer. nat. Heiko Ott, Helmholtz Center Munich

Interested creative professionals are invited to apply via our online form: to the application form

Application deadline: June 2, 2025

Review and evaluation by the jury: by July 30, 2025

Among other things, the following information will be requested

• Brief description of your project with reference to the key topic of health: AI - human - machine - robotics - care - prevention - prostheses
• Motivation and expected benefits of participation
• Portfolio or work samples (e.g. website, social media, video links)

An independent jury will evaluate the qualified submissions based on defined criteria.

The decisive factors are relevance, artistic quality and thematic fit.

Eligibility and selection criteria

This cross-innovation journey is not just a one-off event, but also a catalyst for the development of innovative follow-up projects. An essential prerequisite for participation is therefore the willingness to actively work on further collaborations with companies, research institutions and other partners beyond the trip. Your participation should serve the purpose of networking as well as long-term cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and ideas for the further development of technologies and solutions in the field of health and medical technology.

Requirements and selection criteria for participation

• You are active in one of the eleven submarkets of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs).
• You have already realized work in the field of health/medical technology or AI.
• You are interested in working with companies and the challenges they face.
• You are willing to continue working with medical technology and healthcare companies on potential follow-up projects after the cross-innovation journey.
• You have experience and interest in new technologies.

This cross-innovation journey offers you a unique opportunity to network and develop concrete research and innovation projects with other companies and creative professionals - with possible funding prospects through funding programs or the StMWi.

We look forward to receiving your application!

The first day of the festival will focus on best practices, mutual exchange and new ideas.

The second day of the program is dedicated to knowledge sharing and program launch.
The group will have the opportunity to discuss ideas for Art-x-Tech programs, followed by discussions with people who have already successfully implemented programs.

This day serves to deepen the innovation impulses. The second ideation session will help to identify common topics and opportunities for cooperation. The day ends with a visit to the impressive, immersive world of Deep Space 8K at the Ars Electronica Center.