By Ruoran (Kathy) Li, Junior Project Manager - Art-Science
In December 2021, UNArt Center – an art space and an integrated communication platform that interlinks technology, art, and education founded in 2019 – launched its new initiative titled “Complexity-X”. Inspired by the complexity theory that emphasizes interactions as a mean to understand complex systems, Complexity-X promotes interdisciplinary communication as a method to solve complex issues.
Approximately 50 practitioners and researchers working in the field of arts, science, and technology participated in the pilot project that ran from December 20 to 24.
The art-science team at Swissnex in China had the pleasure to be invited to join this cohort comprised of many players active in interdisciplinary collaborations in Shanghai, as well as scientists and independent artists interested in cross-discipline exchange.
Visiting Thermo Fisher’s Experience Center in Shanghai. ( Photo by Jiajie Shi, courtesy of Complexity-X. )
The group visited six companies of different fields, sizes, and organizational cultures. Each day’s program began with a guided tour at the hosting company, followed by presentations of selected participants introducing their own interdisciplinary projects, and concluded with a group discussion that wraps up the day’s learning and observation. Each participant has the liberty to choose different sessions to join. As a result, each day, the “observation group” comprises various participants with a wide range of professional backgrounds, which stimulated vibrant exchange that never ceased to inspire.
Visiting Impact Hub Shanghai. ( Photo by Jiajie Shi, courtesy of Complexity-X. )
During the exchange, several decision-makers at the hosting companies expressed their appreciation of the inputs and questions raised by people outside that field and welcomed future interactions of a similar nature.
Swissnex in China is looking forward to strengthening its connection with local individuals and institutions practicing in the interdisciplinary field in our upcoming projects this year, including the Café des Sciences 2022 series focusing on social innovations, the Art x Science Dialogue series following the latest development at the crossroad of art, science, and technology, and many more special events to come.
The companies that hosted the first Complexity-X group included:
(In order of the on-site visits)
Dipole aims to build a reliable and efficient platform to trade distributed energy with ease in any scenario using blockchain technology and the Internet of Things. For energy providers, Dipole will be the energy platform of smart cities in the future, providing energy and information effectively for trillions of devices on the demand side.
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Shanghai
Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world’s largest provisioner of scientific instrumentation, opened a new customer experience centre in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai. The facility, the biggest of its kind in Thermo Fisher’s global network, aims to facilitate local partnerships and elevate the development of science and technology. It is also a tool for strengthening its “rooted in China and serving China” growth strategy.
China Merchants Cruise Research Institute (CMCI)
Established in December 2019, CMCI is a professional research institution for the cruise industry established by China Merchants Industrial Group in the Lin’gang Free Trade Zone. CMCI serves as the development platform for the entire cruise industry chain of China Merchants Group, as well as the research and consulting platform for the development of the China Merchants Industrial Cruise Manufacturing Industry.
Participants shared their interdisciplinary projects during the exchange at CMCI. ( Photo by Jiajie Shi, courtesy of Complexity-X. )
Impact Hub was founded in London in 2005. Every Impact Hub is established and operated by a local team and deeply rooted in the local community. In 2017, Impact Hub Shanghai broke ground in China. Like our worldwide counterparts, we support entrepreneurs with incubation programs and community events, address innovational needs of corporates, institutions, and governments, and incubate solutions to systemic challenges - all towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Creative Technology Laboratory, School of Creativity and Art, ShanghaiTech University
The Creative Technology Laboratory plans to set up several science and technology laboratories and art design studios in different fields and is committed to building an interdisciplinary, creative, heavy application that integrates intelligent technology, design and art, and has a high degree of social responsibility and mission. The platform has the following laboratories and studios. It will continue to expand in the future: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Art Lab (AIDA), Center for Adaptive System Engineering (CASE), Creative Entertainment Lab (CEL), Design Interaction Visual Lab (DIV), Lab for Experiential and Affective Design (LEAD).
Last day at ShanghaiTech University. ( Photo by Jiajie Shi, courtesy of Complexity-X. )