Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions that can’t be answered here or require any support, feel free to reach out to our team: foundinglab@ars.electronica.art
The IDSA x Ars Electronica FOUNDING LAB is a collaborative effort between the Institute of Digital Sciences Austria (IDSA) and Ars Electronica. Read more…
The FOUNDING LAB aims to create impulses for the Institute of Digital Sciences Austria (IDSA) in Linz, Austria, a pioneering university dedicated to all dimensions of digitalization and its transformative effects on science, art, society, and the economy.
The Institute of Digital Sciences Austria (IDSA) was founded in 2022, its research and teaching are dedicated to all dimensions of digitalization and its transformative effects on science, art, society, and the economy. The university is built on interdisciplinarity and inter-university cooperation. It aims to attract students who are interested in the interaction of technical studies, natural sciences, economics, law, social sciences, humanities, cultural studies, and artistic disciplines.
The FOUNDING LAB welcomes applications from students and fellows from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to scientists, artists, engineers, designers, scholars, practitioners, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. It is open to master’s and PhD students, as well as experts and thought leaders from various disciplines.
The FOUNDING LAB offers three main programs: the Summer School, the Forum, and the Fall Term. The Summer School is for students. The Forum and the Fall Term are open to both, students and fellows.
The Summer School is a three-week program that takes place as part of the Ars Electronica Festival. It requires full-time commitment from the participants.
A maximum of 75 students can be selected to participate in the Summer School.
Students attending the Summer School will have their travel, accommodation, and visa costs covered. Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) will also be provided.
The Forum is a five-day event that is part of the Ars Electronica Festival.
Up to 15 fellows will be selected to participate in the Forum.
Fellows attending the Forum will have their travel, accommodation, and visa costs covered. They will also receive an honorarium of €2,500.
The Fall Term extends from October 2023 to January 2024. It includes a series of workshops, online mentoring, and deep dive talks.
15 fellows and 25 students can participate in the Fall Term.
Fellows attending the Fall Term will have their travel, accommodation, and visa costs covered. They will also receive an honorarium of €5,000.
Students participating in the Fall Term will receive a stipend of €1,300 per month. They will also have their travel costs for three round trips covered and up to €2,000 for production costs.
The programs are conducted in English.
No, there is no application fee for the FOUNDING LAB programs.
The application deadline for fellows is July 3, 2023, at 11:59 pm CEST.
The extended application deadline for students is July 6, 2023, at 11:59 pm CEST.
The programs are open to applicants from diverse fields and backgrounds, including but not limited to technology, arts, sciences, economics, law, social sciences, humanities, cultural studies, and artistic disciplines.
Full-time commitment and active engagement in the program activities are expected.
Students participating in the Fall Term are required to attend 80% of all workshops, mentoring sessions, and deep dive talks.
Submissions to only one program part are accepted, but preference will be given to applicants who are available for both Summer School and Fall Term (Students) and the Forum and Fall Term activities (Fellows)
There is no specific age restriction. Even though the Call is directed to Master’s and/or PhD students or equivalent, prospective Students that can prove their expertise are invited to participate without holding a degree. The programs are open to students, experts, and thought leaders from various backgrounds.
Yes, international applicants are welcome to apply for the FOUNDING LAB programs. Travel, accommodation, and visa costs will be covered.
Yes, participants who successfully complete the Summer School, Forum, or Fall Term will receive a certificate of participation. The FOUNDING LAB Summer School is the equivalent of 4 ECTS (100% participation), the FOUNDING LAB Fall Term is equivalent to 12 ECTS (minimum 80% participation).
Participants will have access to relevant resources, facilities, and equipment required for their projects and activities. The FOUNDING LAB aims to provide a supportive environment for collaboration and experimentation.
Yes, you can apply as an individual without a specific project proposal. In such cases, you can focus on your background, interests, and motivation for participating in the program. You will have the opportunity to decide on your project during the program.
The selection process is based on the evaluation of the submitted applications. An international jury will consider various factors, including the quality of the project proposal (for fellows), motivation statement, diversity of backgrounds, and potential contribution to the objectives of the FOUNDING LAB.
No, there are no registration or tuition fees for the program.
You can submit your application for only one part of the program, but preference will be given to applicants who are available for both the Summer School and Fall Term.
Yes, you can submit your application for only one program part. However, preference will be given to applicants available for both the Forum and Fall Term activities.
To participate in the Summer School, you should be a master’s or PhD student (or equivalent) or have expertise in the relevant field. Students are expected to be onsite in Linz for the entire duration of the Summer School and work on a project to be presented at the Ars Electronica Festival.
The application period opens on June 8, 2023, and the deadline for fellows is July 3, 2023, at 11:59 pm CEST, the deadline for students is July 6, 2023, at 11:59 pm CEST. Selected applicants will be notified by email by mid-July 2023, and the results will be published on the program partners’ website from July 2023 onwards.
For the application process, the following materials are required:
- Personal details: Include your name, contact information, and any relevant affiliations.
- Curriculum vitae: Provide a maximum of 2 pages highlighting your educational background.
- Motivation letter: Write a maximum of 1 page explaining your background relevant to the FOUNDING LAB program and your reasons for interest in becoming a student.
- Video: Create a video with a maximum duration of 2 minutes, answering the following question: What makes you the ideal student for this program and how do you resonate with the focus of the FOUNDING LAB?
- Optional: Additional materials reflecting your passion and expertise, such as artwork, projects, prototypes, research, systems, activities, strategies, etc.
- When providing links to additional materials, ensure their accessibility and provide passwords if necessary. Please note that parts of your application, including your video, may be made public for communication and promotion purposes.
The required materials for the application process include:
- Personal details, such as your name, contact information, and any relevant affiliations.
- Curriculum vitae (CV) including teaching experience (maximum 3 pages).
- Motivation letter highlighting your professional background relevant to the FOUNDING LAB and explaining your interest in becoming a Fellow (maximum 1 page).
- Concept proposal for one of the six chapters (maximum 2 pages):
- Highlight the thematic Chapter of the FOUNDING LAB Fall Term you are choosing and explain how your expertise relates to it.
- Detail the topics you would like to focus on and the method of delivering content, including both lecture-based and participatory formats, and how you think these activities will enhance the learning experience.
- Describe how you plan to showcase your own research and expertise as part of the FOUNDING LAB and how you hope this will impact future research and study programs of IDSA.
- Video (maximum 2 minutes) answering the following questions: What makes you the ideal Fellow for this program, and how do you resonate with the focus of the FOUNDING LAB? What are your motivations and ideas related to the program, and how do they relate to your research and/or teaching experience?
- Optional: Additional materials reflecting your passion and expertise, such as artwork, projects, prototypes, research, systems, activities, strategies, etc.
- When providing links to additional materials, ensure their accessibility and provide passwords if necessary. Please note that parts of your application, including your video, may be made public for communication and promotion purposes.
- Remember that alternative forms of submission and late applications will not be accepted.
If you have questions or require support, reach out to our team: foundinglab@ars.electronica.art