Research residency
We are delighted to announce that artist duo Semiconductor have been awarded a research residency at the Innovation in Digital Governance – INNPULSE project (part of the Digital Economy and Society Unit).
Between January and June 2026, Semiconductor will work alongside our science-for-policy researchers, questioning and probing issues relating to emerging technologies and civic participation. By investigating the languages, methodologies and infrastructures underpinning research at the JRC, the aim is to shift attention from technological outcomes to the systems that produce them, opening space for public dialogue on innovation and its societal implications.
To kick-start the residency, Semiconductor gave an artist talk introducing their previous work at the intersection of science and science-for-policy.
Presentation of Residency
Semiconductor presented their artistic practice to the JRC community on 28th January 2026. A recording is available below
Meet the artist
For over twenty-five years, semiconductor have developed a research-led practice grounded in collaborations with scientific institutions such as CERN, NASA and the UK Government Office for Science. Their work critically examines how scientific tools, data and systems of knowledge production shape human perception and influence how reality is described and governed.
About INNPULSE
We are a team of 10 researchers working in the Innovation of Public Services and Digital Transformation of Governance (INNPULSE) project. Our team focuses on the evolving role of the public sector in navigating and enabling the digital transition. With the rise of digital technologies, we recognise both the empowering opportunities they offer and the challenges they present, especially in the context of public governance. Our work seeks to understand and address the role of digital transformation in improving public services, fostering multi-actor engagements and building a resilient European society.
We hope this collaboration can leverage creative expressions to communicate complex, forward-thinking topics and questions concerning digital governance, societal needs and public sector reforms and listen to others’ understandings, too. Through this initiative, we aim to bridge the gap between academic research, policy-making and civil society by elaborating on critical questions through multi-lateral engagements. This gap can take a number of forms but can be grounded in the European concerns of a multicultural setting and the varied understandings of such actors.
Hosting an artist as part of our research group allows for exchange of knowledge, ideas and perspectives with all who engage with our work. We are not aiming at communicating our findings, but at engaging in active listening and collaborative reflections. This two-way interaction will allow us to better understand the concerns and aspirations of our stakeholders—policymakers, civil servants and citizens—while contributing insights into the challenges and opportunities that we are exploring.