Art and Science in Dialogue

Krems, November 10, 2026 – What does research sound like? And what new perspectives emerge when science and art come together? These questions were the focus of the event “Innovation Meets Inspiration – Art and Science in Dialogue,” held on November 9 at the Campus Hall in Krems. At the invitation of tecnet equity and the University of Continuing Education Krems, researchers, artists, and university representatives came together to explore new approaches to science and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

“Lower Austria is a land of research, innovation, and creativity. For scientific findings to give rise to new solutions for the future, we need not only excellent research but also the courage to look beyond our own horizons. ‘Innovation Meets Inspiration’ impressively demonstrates how the connection between science and art opens up new perspectives and brings research to life for people,” emphasized Karl Wilfing, President of the State Parliament, representing Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.

The event centered on an extraordinary artistic experiment: Charbel Haber, an internationally active Lebanese musician and composer, translated four research projects into a musical performance he developed specifically for the occasion, accompanied by a video installation by media artist Markus Wintersberger. The artistic interpretation was created through an intensive exchange with the participating researchers and brought complex scientific topics to life in an unconventional way.

“Innovation arises not only from technological knowledge, but also from new perspectives and the courage to question familiar patterns of thought. Research and art are united by a curiosity to discover new things. With this event, we aim to build bridges between different disciplines and provide new impetus for the transfer of knowledge,” emphasizes Doris Agneter, Managing Director of tecnet equity.

Four Research Projects - One Artistic Interpretation

The scientific basis for the performance was provided by four research projects from universities in Lower Austria: Gerald J. Obermair of Karl Landsteiner Private University is investigating the connections between nerve cells and their significance for neurological disorders. Matthias Pilecky of the University of Continuing Education Krems is examining the influence of diet on mental health. Katharina Schmidt from Danube Private University is developing highly sensitive biosensors for the early detection of diseases, while Yolanda Salinas Soler from IMC Krems is conducting research on biodegradable nanomachines for medical and environmental applications.

Drawing on these diverse topics, Charbel Haber created a musical interpretation that, together with Markus Wintersberger’s visualizations, opened up new perspectives on scientific questions.

“For me, it was particularly exciting to take the researchers’ ideas and insights and develop my own musical language from them. It wasn’t about simply illustrating research, but about enabling a new way of perceiving these topics,” explains Charbel Haber.

New Impulses for Knowledge Transfer

In addition to the artistic performance, the event provided a space for discussion about the importance of creativity in science and innovation. Representatives from Lower Austrian universities discussed new forms of collaboration and the societal impact of research.

Viktoria Weber from the University for Continuing Education Krems highlights the added value of the initiative: “Science thrives on creativity and the willingness to break new ground. Dialogue with the arts makes it possible to view research questions from a different perspective and to convey findings in a way that also resonates emotionally with people.”

With “Innovation Meets Inspiration,” tecnet equity and the University of Continuing Education Krems aim to strengthen the connections between science, art, and society. As part of the “research-to-value next” program, tecnet supports the transfer of scientific findings into economic and societal applications. Artistic approaches can provide new food for thought, make research more accessible to a broader audience, and open up additional opportunities for collaboration.

Link to the video: https://bit.ly/4iz9pxb

Press photo 01: From left to right: State Parliament President Karl Wilfing, Doris Agneter, Managing Director of tecnet equity, Sabine Siegl-Amerer, Vice Rector of Karl Landsteiner University, Viktoria Weber, Rector of the University of Continuing Education Krems, Christoph Kleber, Head of the Research and Development Office at DPU, and Markus Golla, Director of the Institute of Nursing Science at IMC Krems.

Press photo 02: From left to right: State Parliament President Karl Wilfing with the participating researchers. From left to right: Karl Wilfing, Matthias Pilecky (UWK), Yolanda Salinas Soler (IMC), Gerald Obermair (DPU), and Katharina Schmidt (KL).

Press Photo 03: From left to right: State Parliament President Karl Wilfing, Doris Agneter, Managing Director of tecnet equity, Viktoria Weber, Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems, Christina Hainzl (UWK), and musician and composer Charbel Haber.