Eligibility

• African citizens or residents, or organizations registered on the African continent
• Groups must include at least one African citizen or resident
• Individual creatives, artists, professionals, groups, legal entities (startups, NGOs, research institutions), or community initiatives
• Projects must be completed or substantially developed for jury assessment
• Projects must not be older than two years without significant recent updates

Selection Criteria

• Innovation at the intersection of art and science/technology
• Positive social, humanitarian, economic, or political impact
• Promotion of diverse and sustainable society
• Quality and maturity of the project
• Visionary pathways towards positive change

Focus Areas

What They Look For

Creative projects at the intersection of art and science/technology that tackle complex issues and offer visionary pathways toward positive change on the African continent. Eligible practices include music, performing/visual arts, film, animation, gaming, design, fashion, architecture, art-science collaborations, human-centered AI, and social software. The jury values completed or near-complete work demonstrating tangible innovation and impact.

Post-Investment Support

Exhibition at Ars Electronica Festival and partner events; integration into S+T+ARTS network; international visibility through European Commission channels; access to STARTS Afropean Intelligence project network.

Notable Investments

Kairos Futura — The Wild Future Lab (2025 Grand Prize, Nairobi re-wilding project); 2024 inaugural edition winners (first year of Africa prize)