We are part of the AVARA 2026

The 2026 edition of AVARA Art & Tech <3 Space takes place on 18–20 November 2026 at Hotel Lasaretti. The intriguingly open-ended theme explores space in both concrete and conceptual terms: as physical environments, virtual worlds, shared places for encounters, ecological systems, outer space and inner human experience. It invites participants to consider how movement, sound, stories, technology and the environment shape the spaces we create and experience – and how we might imagine them differently in the future.

The programme includes keynotes, discussions, workshops, artistic content and demonstrations, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, experiment with new approaches and build connections across disciplines. At the same time, AVARA opens up questions about who designs our environments, who gets to influence them, and what responsibilities come with shaping the spaces we share.

Creative Cross-Innovation Session with the ekipengine.eu European Platform and Humak UAS

Facilitators: Marcin Poprawski and Elisa Kraatari (Humak)
Thursday 19.11.2026 from 2:15–4:00 p.m.

ekipengine.eu is the leading EU platform for bridging Cultural and Creative Sectors’ professionals and Innovation Policies. Managed by the Lund University in Sweden, key contributers include partners like the Delft University of Technology (NL), Politecnico di Milano (IT) and from Finland Humak University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. The latter will host this session that will bring the discussion about the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) and Innovation Policies to Avara this year.

CCI is a sector buzzing with creativity, experimentation, and ideas. And yet, it’s regularly misunderstood—particularly when it comes to scalability and integration into mainstream of innovation support instruments. At ekip, we work to embed CCIs into the heart of Europe’s innovation ecosystems as system-shapers, bridge-builders, and policy co-creators. The ekip team is on a mission to make open innovation and cross-innovation elemental ways of working across creative industries and other sectors. But what does that mean? Collaboration is at the core. By bringing together people from different industries,  creativity-led open innovation supports collaboration that helps finding solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges.

Creative cross-innovation is an interdisciplinary process in which cultural and creative professionals collaborate with professionals from other fields such as engineering, education, health, or farming in new ways that accelerate transferring knowledge and re-imagining solutions.

AVARA brings together professionals in art, culture, and technology. What new emerges when art, innovation, emerging technologies, and social impact intersect? Come join us, and you’ll find out!

Read more about the project

1.6.2023 – 30.11.2026

EKIP – European Cultural and Creative Industries Policy Platform

Research programme

• Thriving Through Experiences

Impact area

• EU/EEA countries
• Non-EU/EEA area in Europe