Open Call | HackS+T+ARTS 2022: Circular Futures

The Onassis Stegi in collaboration with ΜΑDE Group in the context of S+T+ARTS Regional Centers - Repairing the Present, invites designers, artists, architects, thinkers, humanists, policy makers, scientists, technologists, academics and entrepreneurs to a hackathon for rethinking and redesigning systems for circularity.

The products, processes, and projects that we work on are increasingly complex and interrelated systems. We now realise so many of these complex yet crucial systems that we rely on are fragile, unsustainable, and exploit this planet’s finite resources over both space and time, borrowing from what belongs to future generations.

The circular economy is a systems solution framework that tackles global challenges based on three simple principles: designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Building a circular economy in cities can bring economic, social, and environmental benefits in shaping our sustainable communities and places.

As we enter the "4th Industrial Revolution" (4IR), enormous creative possibilities emerge, necessitating multi-layered solutions for the transition to the circular economy. The rapid technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, autonomous vehicles, big data analytics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials, and energy storage challenge the current status quo and re-define our relationship with our environments and the world.

The hackathon aims to motivate all change-makers – governments, companies, and individuals – and to serve as a platform for open social innovation in the arts and sciences, so that the changes we make may have unexpected and often unpredictable effects, advance the circular economy and think of possible sustainable futures.

For a societal endeavor of this scale, stakeholders from the creative and cultural industries, civil society, academia, policy making, the industry and more need to be actively engaged. That’s why S+T+ARTS is calling on all relevant actors to reflect upon these systems and pool their efforts to shift mind-sets, experiment and make great transition happen through co-creation.

Join the co-creation journey, which will help our community to become a better place for everyone!

• How can we bring together artists, scientists, and technology in a transdisciplinary approach to create innovative solutions for a more sustainable future that protects the Earth's finite resources?
• Materials in many waste streams can be reused, recycled or recovered. In what ways can materials be used to promote responsible consumption and production and thus enable the circular economy?
• How can cities be reimagined and redesigned with circularity in mind?
• How can we embrace emerging technologies to enable the circular economy and assist ecology through culture and art programs?
• What learning spaces can we create through educational programs that bridge disciplinary perspectives and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all?
• How may the ability to encompass creative discoveries, draw connections, and envision circular scenarios can regenerate natural systems?
• Can system thinking perspectives contribute to open innovation research?
• In the context of art and science, how can cross-disciplinary collaboration lead to co-creation and inclusive placemaking?
• Digitalization is a driving force behind a number of industries. In what ways might digital systems help to accelerate the transition to sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation?
• How can emerging technologies and circular thinking contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainability Goals through imagination, creativity and innovation?

The Hackathon is open to everyone, but pre-registration is required. We encourage team applications but interested parties can apply as individuals and find partners prior to the hackathon.

Applications will be open until the 20th of May 2022 at 18.00 EEST! Applications sent after this deadline will not be taken into consideration. The successful applicants will be notified by the 30th of May, and will need to physically attend all days from 1-3rd July including an online pre-event early in June.

The working language will be in Greek with interventions & inspirational talks in English. The hackathon aims to cultivate the S+T+Arts regional center ethos in Greece while we "think globally, act locally".

Participation is free of charge.

For further enquiries, please contact us at networks@onassis.org

The hackathon is addressed to people with and without technological skills, and the outcomes can include technology and non-technology solutions such as ideas for:

• Cultural / Educational Programs
• Platforms / Apps / Games
• Process / Research Project
• Creative Projects
• Product / Service

All teams will present their proposals to the judges on the evening of Sunday, July 3rd at 14:00. Three teams will be given cash rewards, with the first prize being 1,500€, the second prize being 1,000€, and the third prize being 500€.

All participants will gain visibility for their contributions, as well as networking and collaboration opportunities. They will also receive a certificate of participation in the S+T+Arts Hackathon: Circular Futures.

20 May 2022

Open Call Deadline

30 May 2022

Notification of successful applicants and registration

Early June 2022

Inspirational Talks & Networking / Pre-Hackathon event

1-3 July 2022

HackS+T+Arts: Circular Futures

Teams will be judged on the following criteria:

• Creativity and originality: ideation and conception
• Technology and innovation: level of innovation and technological complexity
• Critical thinking: observation, analysis, interpretation, reflection, evaluation, inference, explanation, problem solving, and decision making
• Implementation of the idea: realistic capability
• Potential Impact: social, scientific, sustainability, creative, technical, educational, economic, commercial viability
• Communication and presentation
• Transdisciplinarity: Ability to work across the arts, sciences and technology

Meet | Communicate | Collaborate (for all participants and mentors)

Where: Slack Platform

Pre-hackathon Inspirational Talks & Networking

Where: Online

"Co-creation for social innovation", Inspirational talk by Meia Wippoo, Advisor & Strategist for Co-creation & Participatory Design

Hackathon Circular Futures

Where: Onassis Stegi (level -1)

The program will include the following talks & workshops:

• "Circular Economy and IND4.0: thinking outside the box is not enough", Αntonis Mavropoulos, UNEP IETC advisor, CEO D-WASTE
  
• "A Framework for the Joint Implementation of the UN SDGs", Phoebe Koundouri, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business; President of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists; Fellow World Academy of Art and Science; Co-chair SDSN Europe
  
• "Circular Creativity - creative circularity", Lucas Evers, Head of Make Programme & Lead Open Wetlab (FabLab, Textile Lab & Open Wetlab)
  
• "Green Club: Inspiring the next generation to engage with circular futures", Unit Lab, Artist Collective
  
• Guest Speaker on ‘Systems Thinking’ Thalia Rizou, Director of Youthnest
  
• Workshop "Materializing Futures", Costas Bissas, Industrial designer & Mechanical engineer

Circular Futures is organised by Onassis Stegi and MADE Group in the context of the Regional S+T+Arts Centers program, of the S+T+Arts European Commission initiative.

S+T+Arts

S+T+Arts is an initiative of the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. S+T+Arts was launched in 2015, following up the findings of previous activities funded by the European Commission, namely ICT&Art 2012, FET-ART, ICT ART CONNECT 2013 and ICT ART CONNECT study, whose results demonstrated the worldwide emergence of communities of hybrid collaborations among science, technology, and arts, and their relevance.

MADE GROUP Co

MADE Group is a non-profit platform for communications strategy, social innovation projects, and creative synergies. Culture and innovation, ecology and sustainability, democracy and inclusivity, resilience and progress are their inspiration and the guidelines of their works. Social innovation is about creating ideas and solutions for change; creativity is about becoming inventive through synergies and interactivity, while having high standards of aesthetics for every strategy or accomplishment. MADE team is a group of experts, professionals and scientists, who provide the opportunity for training, experimentation and high level of commitment to alumni and young professionals.