Open Call Nubia Lab ISA 2024

Program description

NUBIA LAB ISA 2024 is a Catalan incubation program that selects the 6 most interesting projects in emerging or professional digital art. Through a 12-week mentorship process, participants will be able to develop and refine their projects.

The incubation program is based on three methodologies combined to strive for excellence: those developed by STARTS, NESTA, and MIT Media Lab, along with the accumulated experience of ESPRONCEDA.

Among the 6 previously selected projects, 2 will be chosen at the end of October to enter a super-acceleration phase, which involves their presentation on professional platforms in 2025, such as Venice Immersive, Cannes XR, or New Images Festival.

Additionally, on September 18, all the projects will participate in an in-person networking session with representatives from international institutions like Aalto University/EMIL Project, STARTS/Aurelie Delater, Michael Barngrover/XR4Europe, as well as national representatives such as Vicent Fibla/Eufònic and Xavier Bové/La Salle.

Program details

- Call for applications and project selection: Open Call and Talent Research (June and July).
- Last week of July: Final selection of candidates in collaboration with national and international mentors and experts.
- September 2024: Start of incubation. Event in Tarragona.

Assignment of mentors and group training.

Networking activity: Nubia Lab ISA Professional Day. Event in the province of Barcelona (Badalona).
October 2024: Specific mentorship for each project.
November 2024: Presentation of refined projects. Evaluation by the jury and selection of two projects for super-acceleration. Final event in Tarragona.

Program content outline

Topic Title	Knowledge Area
SDG Concepts, Digital Art, and Social Impact	Social Impact
Digital Art and Contemporary Art	Tool: Artistic Excellence
Business Collaboration	Business: Financial Alternatives
Advanced Technologies: VR, Haptics, and AI	Tools: New Technologies
Touch Designer & Unreal Engine	Programming
Project Design and Implementation	Project Management
International Projects and Exhibitions	Business
European Programs and Entrepreneurship	Business
European and International Professional Networks	Promotion
Creative Communication and Storytelling	Promotion
Intellectual Property – Blockchain	Digital Tools

Note: The final program and mentors will be announced at the end of August.

Mentors and trainers

Pending confirmation of the final panel, the following professionals will participate:

Alex Ginés: Innovation technician at Neàpolis Vilanova, specializing in storytelling for digital projects and marketing and business development tools.
Marta Ordeig: Founder of Garage Stories, with programs promoting the creation and promotion of digital projects using immersive technologies. https://www.garagestories.org/startups
Solimán López: Digital artist, entrepreneur, and innovation trainer at the University of Valencia, with experience creating digital projects like OLEA. http://cryptolea.org/
Betty Bigas: Art curator, public relations expert, and artistic director of exhibition projects, specializing in digital art and new technologies. Consultant for companies like Kreoz for Apple TV, Nestlé Innovation, NFT Barcelona, and DrapArt.

Final call rules

Awards and grants

Free and unlimited access to Espronceda’s technical equipment: laptops, virtual reality headsets, projectors, LED screens, etc.
Maintenance expenses: €500/project.

Obligations
Participants of NUBIA Labs are required to promote the NUBIA program from the moment of their selection, during their work process, and afterward, using tags and logos provided by the organization.

Artists must provide an executable copy of the project for NUBIA, which may require its installation in a physical/virtual location, as well as submit a report with the project description and its technical specifications for proper execution.

Deadline: Applications are open until July 31.

Registration link: https://forms.gle/cpgpUBW58gZgdQi19