PESETABS is a diffusion model to analyse the outcomes of art-driven experiments, and diffuses the responsible innovation value that resides within them. Through a structured approach, it explores eight directions for spill-over potential, where future impact can be created, and matches them to an ambition. The directions include policy, ecology, society, economy, technology, art, business, and science.

At In4Art, we have developed a novel approach to the challenge of responsible innovation – one which finds synergy between the R&D value of experimenting with new materials, technologies, and structures, and the propensity of artists to conduct such experimentation in their own work. Art-Driven Innovation is our database-driven methodology for identifying promising ideas at the intersection of art & technology and then applying those ideas as drivers of ethical, inclusive, and equitable innovation.

The SUSTAIN research project, a collaboration between De Haagse Hogeschool and Avans Hogeschool, investigated in 2022-2024 the emerging practice of “Spacemaking” – how organizations create and maintain space for art in domains like economics, science, and technology to contribute to sustainable and just societal transitions. The research studied 6 organizations and resulted in 5 different cahier publications, supported with a toolkit.

Art-driven innovation explores the path of bringing artists into the heart of scientific and technological development. Through the S+T+ARTS AIR project, a consortium of eight partners and ten artists demonstrated how artistic experiments with generative artificial intelligence can lead to groundbreaking innovations. This essay explores the fascinating outcomes of six of these experiments, particularly in AI x health, AI x biodiversity, and AI x human values.

This essay explores the fascinating history of AI, its current state, and the exciting future that lies ahead, with a special focus on the cutting-edge field of what we started to call Motion Prompting and two case studies: the results of residencies in which we collaborated with artists Unchartered Limbo Collective and Natan Sinigaglia. It is based on the work within the S+T+ARTS AIR project and originally written for the Motion Prompting event that took place on October 10th, 2024 at Mu Hybrid ArtHouse in Eindhoven.

We explore 19 innovations developed through the EU-funded Better Factory program (running from October 2020 to September 2024), where In4Art acted as the methodological lead. These innovations, arising from collaborations between artists, SMEs, and tech experts, span a range of fields including additive manufacturing, software, IoT, materials, and robotics. The results demonstrate the value of art-driven innovation across diverse industries, showcasing how it can drive both industrial advancement and artistic practice, while opening up new possibilities for cross-disciplinary problem-solving and creative exploration.

The 2019 Witteveen+Bos Art+Technology Award was awarded to the artist duo Evelina Domnitch and Dmitry Gelfand, whose artworks variously combine physics, chemistry, computer science, and philosophy. To mark the occasion, In4Art was asked by engineering and consulting firm Witteveen+Bos to write an essay to accompany a book of the duo’s work on the occasion of winning the prize.

Experiments in Art and Economics is a short-term Residency Program by In4Art and ZKM | Karlsruhe. How does society become more distributive, and regenerative? What can we do to respect the ecological boundaries? How shall our perception of value be changed, and how new types of entrepreneurship, based on new forms of collaboration, will become possible? How to reshape the way we think about the economy in order to open space for new ideas?

Image: Studio Lennarts & De Bruijn (SL&DB). Cover of “Toekomst van het lichaam“, by Robin Bergman.

To contribute to the STT 99 Publication: Exploration of the Future of the Body, In4Art was asked to write a guest essay reflecting on body enhancement, aging and particular identity based on our research within Prosthetic X. We elaborate our vision on new beauty ideals and what implications and questions the use of bio-prosthetics as identity enhancement might have.

While we are being flooded with digital tools and connected devices promising to make our lives easier and more comfortable, these developments raise questions on ethics, responsibility and sustainability. We have developed three distinct yet interconnected projects aimed at informing and enhancing responsible innovation in data management and AI development: Vocal Values Principles, E-missions and Data Donor Register.

In Brno, Czech Republic, an unusual orchestra is playing a symphony for an audience of plants. At Mendel University, artist Helena Nikonole’s Acoustic Agriculture project, part of S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities initiative, is pushing the boundaries of our understanding of how urban soundscapes influence plant growth and health.

This article makes an argument to work on Digital Etiquette and find regulative support to make green choices by default as part of the E-missions project. It was originally written in Dutch and was published as an opinion article in NRC on 28-02-2023.

Have you ever pondered the journey of the food on your plate? Welcome to the world of WTFood, an innovative project by artist Bernat Cuni as part of the S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities initiative. This ingenious application aims to transform how consumers interact with their food choices and, by extension, the global food system itself.

At the forefront of this green revolution is an innovative project that bridges the gap between traditional food forests and cutting-edge technology. The Minimal Viable Protein x Food Forest Flavors (MVPxFFF) Food Computer, developed by artists from Genomic Gastronomy as part of the S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities initiative. It is a prototype recipe generation tool that could revolutionise how we interact with food forests.

In the competitive world of food marketing, vegetables have long been the underdogs. Enter Vegetable Vendetta, a groundbreaking we did with artist Jeroen van der Most, as part of the S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities initiative. This innovative AI tool aims to transform the perception of vegetables from obligatory side dishes to exciting, desirable components of a fulfilling lifestyle.

In the battle against the obesities, a new prospect has emerged: the dining room. As waistlines expand globally, attention turns to the spaces where we consume our calories. The Symposio project, part of S+T+ARTS Hungry EcoCities initiative, offers a tantalising glimpse into how our homes could become the front line in the fight against obesity.

How might we learn to live with nature in our cities? Where can we find ways to collaborate with nature in the development of prosperous future cities? Australian artist Penelope Cain responded to these questions with a vision to explore the idea of micro rewilding cities with lichen.

How might we learn to live with nature in our cities? Where can we find ways to collaborate with nature in the development of prosperous future cities? Artist duo Grow Your Own Cloud (GYOC) responded to these questions with a vision to explore the idea of data storage within the DNA of trees within the city, creating a biological cloud facility.

STARTS is a European Commission initiative that aims to integrate artistic players into non-artistic domains in mutually beneficial ways. We were the lead author of the STARTS collaboration toolkit: a practical resource to support researchers, technology experts, companies, and the artists themselves in such endeavours. The toolkit helps them to find common ground, clearly identify goals, and eventually to plan and execute successful collaborative projects.

This guide is a practical resource for manufacturing SMEs, artists, technology providers, and intermediaries looking to replicate the successful collaborations fostered by Better Factory. Drawing on insights from 16 collaborative experiments involving 48 SMEs, artists, and tech providers across Europe, it offers clear, step-by-step guidance on forming and managing partnerships to tackle industrial challenges with creative and innovative solutions.

From writing assistants to forward-thinking strategists, from visual observers to versatile generalists – artificial intelligence is evolving into diverse ‘species’, each with unique characteristics and applications.

In this accessible and inspiring book, In4Art takes you on a fascinating journey of discovery through the diverse landscape of AI technologies. Like a naturalist exploring a new ecosystem, we classify six AI species and show how they influence our lives and work.

With examples from the art world, business, and science, this book offers practical insights for anyone who wants to understand how we can work and live with these new digital species.

Expected in Dutch – Fall 2025

Based on five years of practical research into the integration of artificial intelligence in creative and commercial processes.

Note: Elements of this book will be integrated into keynotes and a podcast series starting Summer 2025. The English translation will follow after the initial Dutch publication.