On 23 June, the European Parliament hosted a high-level event “Investing in Art-Driven Innovation for Europe’s Future. STARTS as a catalyst of transformation in challenging times” on the role of the STARTS (Science, Technology and the Arts) framework in shaping the future of European innovation. The gathering brought together policymakers, researchers, artists, and technologists to explore how artistic practices contribute to addressing complex societal challenges — from digital transformation to climate resilience, inclusion, and democratic renewal.
We are pleased to share the follow-up report from the event, which captures the main insights, proposals, and policy takeaways that emerged from the discussions.
Key messages included the need for:
- Coherent and long-term funding schemes that enable transdisciplinary collaboration across the cultural, academic, technological, and scientific sectors
- Recognition of culture and creativity as strategic infrastructure within Europe’s innovation agenda
- New policy tools to foster experimentation, critical thinking, and civic engagement through arts-based methodologies
Looking ahead
We are committed to continuing this work and to producing additional evidence-based materials and policy reflections that can help inform the design of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). STARTS has demonstrated its capacity to generate high-impact, cross-sectoral outcomes — and we believe it should play a stronger role in Europe’s future innovation, research, and inclusion strategies.
If you are interested in collaborating or contributing to this effort, please get in touch. We welcome partnerships, ideas, and joint action to advance the role of the arts in building a resilient, creative, and human-centered Europe.