Science and Technology Converge in Europe 

A three-year project aimed at combining the creativity of art with the practicality of science, KiiCS has been revving up for about a year now, and is really gaining traction over in Europe.  KiiCS stands for Knowledge Incubation in Innovation and Creation for Science, and was created by FP7, a European Union funding program.  Shorthand for Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, these funding programs spend billions every few years in the name of science and research, with FP7 reaching €50 Billion up to this point.

KiiCS aims to integrate the arts into science and technology, and in doing so accomplish a number of goals:

• Bring science and technology closer to society, bridging the gap between engineer and the everyman
• Involve more young people in the sciences by appealing to creativity and interest in arts
• Bring innovative ideas to potential investors, working as the middle-man for independent designers

KiiCS sports an network of 21 organizations, 19 cities, and 13 countries.  In a year alone over 30 sponsored activities have taken place, and 1800 participants have joined, along with a host of “Art and Science Incubators”, a term used by KiiCS to refer to their partners that host events and promote STEM to STEAM initiatives.  Everything from music to brain surgery, and from molecules to cities are being addressed and affected by STEAM initiatives like KiiCS and their partners.  Now that they’ve really got the ball rolling, 2013 should be an interesting year for KiiCS! A great sign for STEAM initiatives everywhere!