Applications open for MediaFutures, the new European data-driven innovation hub for the media value chain

Startups and artists can now apply for equity free funding of up to €80,000 on innovative, creative and impactful ideas which address the issues of online misinformation and disinformation

• MediaFutures will support innovative solutions that help people engage with quality journalism, science education and democratic processes
• Successful artists and artistic companies, startups, SMEs and groups of individuals will also receive expert mentoring and training opportunities during the six month accelerator and residency programmes

MediaFutures, the data innovation hub bringing together startups, SMEs and artists to solve challenges in the media industry, announced that applications are open for its second accelerator and residency programmes. Startups, SMEs, artists and artistic companies as well as groups of individuals can now apply to become part of the European-funded project.

From 2020 to 2023, MediaFutures will support 51 startups and SMEs, and 43 artists across three Open Calls for applications, distributing a total amount of €2.5 million. Successful applicants will receive funding, mentoring and training.

Applications are opening for its second cohort, which will begin the programme in April 2022. Startups, SMEs, artists and artistic companies as well as groups of individuals have until 27 January 2022 to submit an application. MediaFutures is looking for ideas relating to quality journalism, transparency, democracy and science communications, all of which should look to counteract the negative impact of misinformation and disinformation within society. Artists can work from available datasets or work with their own, as well as reacting to current affairs, media stories or issues around media freedom and accuracy.?

Applications are being encouraged from those groups who are not as well-represented in the art and start-up worlds, or face additional barriers to entry, including those from ethnic minorities, women and non-binary individuals, the LGBTQ+ community, those with disabilities and those in lower-middle income countries.?

For more information on how to apply, visit: https://mediafutures.eu/opencall/.

MediaFutures has three programme tracks open for applications:?

• Artists for Media - a six month Residency programme for artists with an innovative concept to explore data and technology, and its impact on individuals and society
• Startups for Citizens - a six month Accelerator programme for startups to build a product or service that encourages novel, meaningful ways to engage with media content
• Startup meets Artist - a six month mixed Residency and Accelerator support programme for teams of startups and artists to collaboratively develop new ideas around data technology and the arts

Some examples of the projects from the 2021 accelerator and residency programme:?

• People Supported Intelligence: SURU Together Ltd. developed People Supported Intelligence, a community-focused platform, using data about coronavirus, to encourage conversations among diverse groups and meaningful discussions in small groups, to address community-level issues.
• PONTE: EZC.Partners and The Cynefin Centre have collaborated with visual artist Annika Varjonen. They combined technology platforms, narrative data and art to tackle division and radicalisation in communities. They also developed a plug-in to social media that points users to content that differs from what they usually see.
• Critical Climate Machine: visual artist Ga?tan Robillard developed a digital sculpture and sound installation that quantifies and reveals the mechanisms of misinformation on global warming.?

You can find a description for all of the 12 graduated projects here.

Participants of the first cohort were enthusiastic about the support they received. Here is some feedback:

“Thank you to MediaFutures for helping us build an innovative approach to leveraging the intelligence of local people.“?

“Great offer of training opportunities, we would otherwise not have found or seized.”

“Great possibility and catalyst to bring people together that can realize ideas quicker and test if they function well as a team.”

About MediaFutures: MediaFutures is a three-year European innovation project that aims to contribute to high-quality media activities. Through three Open Calls, startups and artists will encourage citizens to engage more meaningfully with high-quality journalism, science education, and digital citizenship by using different pilots, artworks, and experiences.?

The MediaFutures project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 951962. For more information, please contact: [email protected] or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and on Instagram.

The information reflects the author’s views. The European Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.