The European Union has long recognized the critical role of interdisciplinary innovation in shaping a sustainable and competitive future. However, a main point of discussion is on how to assess the impact of interdisciplinary initiatives. This question is leading T6 efforts in the framework of the STARTS ecosystem.
How to assess innovation?
T6 has been working on how to assess the intersection of art, science and technology in relation to specific challenges. Over the last years, the main questions driving our work have been: Which metrics can be used? Do we need to face a traditional vs unconventional discussion on metrics and KPIs? How can we tackle the need to show quantitative and tangible data with the importance to report on intangible and more qualitative results?
T6’s background
Since T6’s participation in the STARTS Prize project (2021-2023), we have worked to define an impact assessment framework that could assess the impact of the STARTS project. A paper on the methodology has been published. Now, in the STARTS EC(H)O project (2024-2026), T6 is still in charge of the definition of the impact assessment to evaluate the impact of the residencies that are going to be implemented during the project.
Impact assessment definition for STARTS ECHO
To develop and implement a sound approach to assess the impacts, we have worked closely in collaboration with project partners, artists and residencies hosts by adopting a co-design approach for the definition of the methodology. The methodology, indeed, has been drafted according to the previous work conducted by T6 but it will be constantly revised according to stakeholders’ feedback. A crucial element that is also informing the methodology development, is how to converge other methodologies with our framework. Accordingly, it is very interesting the methodology defined by the Starts in the City project; this approach seems very much in line with our framework and provides interesting insights on the analytical framework used.
Next steps
Considering all the inputs reported so far, T6 is starting the data collection process to derive the ex-ante scenario about STARTS EC(H)O residencies. Interviews with hosts institutions and artists will give us the opportunity to further redefine our methodology to be better prepared to spot innovations and impacts. Results will be used to work on scientific publications and further exchanges with colleagues working on the topic to move forward with the definition of a methodology to appropriately explore and assess the impact of the intersection of art, science and technology.