The goal of the FUNKEN Kolleg is to bring together stakeholder from art, science, and businesses and to promote innovative approaches. By involving so-called intrapreneurs from small and medium-sized enterprises, artistically-technological projects are to be enriched with practical expertise.

By May 2025, a total of six collaboration programs will be implemented by the project organizers – Kreatives Chemnitz e. V. and Klub Solitaer e. V. – accompanied by workshops, expert inputs, and public presentations. The project thus contributes to strengthening the innovative capacity of Saxony’s economy and to the implementation of the Maker² program field of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025.

By deliberately bringing together artistic vision, scientific curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit, the FUNKEN Kolleg sets new standards for how innovation is conceived and realized. The Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs supports the project financially based on the funding guidelines for the cultural and creative industries.

Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Dulig emphasized the importance of the project: “The spark (german: Funken) should ignite to better leverage the innovation and transformation potential of the cultural and creative industries for the economy and society. Innovations need leaps of thought across industry boundaries and markets. The world and successful companies regularly reinvent themselves. Also because they must, as decarbonization, skilled labor shortages, sustainability, digitalization, and artificial intelligence demand it. It is important to activate the innovation reserves of Saxony’s medium-sized businesses and thereby increase the resilience of our economy.”