Symposium Collaborative Crossroads

Following the second interim presentation, the symposium Collaborative Crossroads took place. The event focused on the intersection of design and biotechnology, particularly in relation to emerging possibilities for material production. Central to the discussion was the question of what role designers can play in advancing biotechnological processes and translating them into socially accepted, everyday applications. Industrial machines, microorganisms, and design methodologies were explored as potentially interlinkable components. Invited guests included biochemist and materials scientist Filipe Natalio, design researcher Emile de Visscher (ENS Paris-Saclay), and Sebastian Berns from the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND). Due to illness, Filipe Natalio was unable to attend at short notice. In his talk, Emile de Visscher highlighted the key competencies needed by students working in interdisciplinary design. Beyond creative skills, he emphasized the importance of analytical thinking and openness toward other disciplines. For de Visscher, research is not a separate phase but an integral part of the design process. A balanced interplay between scientific methods and creative thinking is essential—without one dominating the other. Sebastian Berns provided insights into SPRIND’s approach. The agency establishes structures specifically designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, including between design and science. It supports projects with high innovation potential that are often deemed too risky for conventional funding mechanisms due to their early development stage. Project selection is based on active scouting, strong networks, and a willingness to embrace unconventional ideas. The symposium clearly demonstrated that the future of technological innovation lies not only in developing new processes, but also in how these are designed, communicated, and embedded within social contexts.