UNIVERSITAT DER KUNSTE BERLIN

Their core work

Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK) is one of Europe's largest and most distinguished arts universities, spanning fine arts, design, music, and performing arts. In H2020, UdK contributed artistic and design-research expertise to interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of creative practice and emerging technology — particularly wearable tech, community networking, and textile-architecture crossovers. Their role brings critical arts-based research methods and creative experimentation into technically driven consortia, ensuring that innovation is shaped by cultural and human-centered perspectives.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

UdK's H2020 involvement spans a narrow window (2015–2017 project starts), making deep trend analysis difficult. Their earliest project (ArcInTex ETN, 2015) focused on training researchers at the boundary of architecture and textiles, while later projects shifted toward digital community tools (MAZI, 2016) and wearable technology with explicit sustainability and responsible innovation framing (WEAR, 2017). The trajectory suggests a move from foundational design research toward more applied, socially conscious technology-art collaboration.

UdK is moving toward applied creative-technology projects with explicit social responsibility dimensions — a valuable partner for anyone needing arts-based perspectives in tech innovation.

How they like to work

UdK has participated exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, across all three H2020 projects. Despite this small portfolio, they have connected with 25 unique partners across 10 countries, suggesting they integrate well into diverse, international consortia. Their participation across three different funding schemes (MSCA-ITN-ETN, RIA, IA) shows adaptability to various project formats and collaboration models.

UdK has built connections with 25 partners across 10 countries through just 3 projects, indicating they join broad, multi-national consortia rather than small focused teams. Their network spans a wide European geography relative to their limited project count.

What sets them apart

UdK brings something rare to EU research consortia: rigorous artistic and design research from a top-tier arts university, not an engineering department doing "design thinking." For projects that need genuine creative practice embedded in technical development — wearable design, community engagement tools, responsible innovation — UdK offers expertise that technical universities simply cannot replicate. Their Berlin location also connects them to one of Europe's most vibrant creative-technology ecosystems.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ArcInTex ETN
  Largest share of UdK's H2020 funding (EUR 747,649) as a Marie Curie training network bridging architecture, textiles, and interaction design — an unusual interdisciplinary combination.
• WEAR
  Directly addresses the intersection of wearable technology, art, and responsible innovation with explicit focus on sustainability and creative hub networks.