STARTS Prize ’21

The S+T+ARTS program of the European Commission encourages synergies between the arts and technology to support innovation in industry and society. STARTS promotes the inclusion of artists in research and innovation activities in Europe. One element of this STARTS Initiative is a prestigious award that highlights people and projects that have the potential to make a sustainable positive impact on Europe’s economic, technological, social, and ecological future. The STARTS Prize celebrates visions and achievements at the interface between innovation and creation.

The 2021 Grand Prize for Artistic Exploration is awarded to Oceans in Transformation by Territorial Agency—John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog. Oceans in Transformation, commissioned by TBA21–Academy, investigates the impact of human activity on the world ocean, the most dynamic and sensitive component of our living planet, as it enters a new phase of its dynamic history, the Anthropocene. Territorial Agency uses extensively remote sensing data to produce settings for public diplomacy—exhibitions, seminars, workshops and online—to guide discussions between multidisciplinary expert groups, scientists, policy makers, activist, conservationist, and citizens to build capacity to act on complex environmental challenges and work towards climate peace.

The 2021 Grand Prize for Innovative Collaboration goes to Remix el Barrio for “Food Waste Biomaterial Makers.” Remix el Barrio examines the potential to democratize the access to innovation in a series of co-design projects using food leftovers in the Barcelona neighborhood Poblenou. Anastasia Pistofidou, Marion Real and The Remixers at IaaC Fab Lab Barcelona worked together with local restaurants, markets, fashion designers, and citizens to find new models and techniques of innovating with waste.