MediaFutures: Mapping of Exploitation Actions and Results

In this blog post, Alexandra Garatzogianni, Coordinator of MediaFutures, and her Deputy, Michael Fribus, share exploitation paths that were explored throughout the duration of the MediaFutures project. More specifically, in Deliverable 6.2 on Exploitation Implementation, the project’s exploitable results and related actions at consortium level can be accessed. Hereby, we have divided the results into four categories, namely Commercial & Cultural Results, Knowledge Results, Network Results, and Accelerator/Residency Results.

Commercial & Cultural Results

As per the Commercial & Cultural Results, the MediaFutures consortium spurred and contributed to the creation and evolution of Artworks, Products and Services. The selected Artworks, during their MediaFutures residency, were centred on topics of misinformation and disinformation and were produced in the form of physical art installations as well as XR/VR experiences. While artists exhibited their work and were compensated by cultural institutions, galleries and exhibition venues, citizens engaged with the artwork to inform themselves to improve their literacy and knowledge on specific topics. Cultural institutions such as art galleries, museums, among others, exhibited the artworks in order to gain a higher prominence.

Products and Service

The Products and Services, funded and accelerated by MediaFutures, were related to raising awareness about misinformation and disinformation, within and beyond European Ecosystems and Communities, with the objective to enhance competencies in identifying and counteracting misinformation.

Knowledge Results

In regards to the Knowledge Results, MediaFutures generated a wide range of outcomes such as Training & Education, Advisory & Mentoring, Peer Learning & Networking, the MediaFutures Toolkit, a Data Catalogue, various Success Stories, Policy Briefs, and Lessons Learned.

Encompassing data ethics, business training and pitch skills

The customised Training & Education sessions strengthened the skills of the selected teams in diverse domains, encompassing data ethics, business training and pitch skills. MediaFutures Advisory supported the teams in accomplishing set milestones and preparing for unforeseen challenges and risks. Additionally, highly qualified experts offered Mentorship in specific fields to close knowledge gaps and enhance skills. Hence, the startups, SMEs and artists were guided on the successful delivery of their project, while gaining further insights into new methodologies, approaches and skills.

Peer Learning and Networking activities

Peer Learning and Networking activities during MediaFutures were organized in several online and physical meetings which allowed the teams to present updates and have open discussions. Startups and artists got the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who face similar challenges. The MediaFutures Consortium could also get a more in-depth knowledge of the challenges and solutions that the teams face, to thus tailor its training and support programme accordingly.

MediaFutures, besides its deliverables, provided the following resource to enable stakeholders gain a deeper understanding on how to counter specific challenges in the media and acceleration sectors.

MediaFutures Toolkit

The MediaFutures Toolkit has been designed to help innovators, artists, and other organizations between business and arts to help to enhance their application to counter misinformation. With the help of this toolkit, the knowledge of the startups and the artists has been enhanced on how to address challenges of misinformation through data and AI solutions.

Our Data Catalogue included data sets, tools and self-training resources and proved to be a useful resource for startups working on data-driven solutions and services as well as artists who worked on data-driven artworks.

Three Policy Briefs provided insight to policy makers on how to tackle misinformation and disinformation on a local, European and national level as well as raising awareness in regards to these subjects for the European Ecosystems and Communities. The Lessons Learned were captured and disseminated in the scope of interviews and videos.

Networking Results

In terms of Networking Results, MediaFutures established an Advisory Board, Ambassador Network, Alumni Network, Online Channels and Communities, Networking Events and Formats, MediaFutures Collaborations as well as Individual Collaborations between Partners, Teams and Externals.

Online Channels and Communities were built during the three years of running MediaFutures including LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Twitter) as well as the MediaFutures website and Slack. With the help of the online communication channels, we were able to put a spotlight on startup and artist teams. Throughout the project, various Network Events and Formats were realised which included internal events for peer learning and networking, open events such as the DemoDays or events from other consortium partners such as the ODI Summit.

MediaFutures Collaborations

Moreover, several MediaFutures Collaborations were established with the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), S+T+ARTS, Big Data Value Association (BDVA) as well as the numerous projects of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) ecosystem. Individual Collaborations have been forged between partners, teams and externals which led to several follow-up projects which can be further been discovered in D6.6 Sustainability Implementation Roadmap.

25 Startups, 15 artists and 27 startup-artist collaborations

Last but not least, the Accelerator/Residency Results incorporated the Innovation Fund Framework, the MediaFutures Framework as well as an Updated Service Portfolio. In the scope of the Innovation Fund Framework, a total of 25 Startups, 15 artists and 27 startup-artist collaborations have received funding of 2.5 Million Euro (sum of the total fund distributed among all teams). This helped startups and artists to kick off and support projects with a future-oriented and highly valuable social mission and vision. The MediaFutures Framework included the structures, processes, methodologies and infrastructure for the open calls management, evaluation, support programmes as well as impact assessment. The Updated Service Portfolio referred to new concepts and service offerings from the service portfolio of the MediaFutures partners.

Our conclusion

Concluding, SMEs, startups and artists accelerated by the MediaFutures project, benefited from various services including training, advisory, mentoring and networking. Furthermore, other local, national and European incubators and art residencies benefitted on the lessons learned and best practices of our project, considering that the art-tech collaboration to combat misinformation and disinformation is one of the many reasons for the uniqueness of our project from which various stakeholders, mostly startups and artists as well as entrepreneurs could benefit from. For more information, discover D6.2 Exploitation Implementation.

Alexandra Garatzogianni

Leitung Wissens- und Technologietransfer, Koordinatorin von EU-Projekten // Head of Knowledge and technology transfer, Coordinator of EU Projects

Michael Fribus

Stellvertreter Kommunikation und Verbreitung PLATOON // Communication & Dissemination Deputy