Wittenborg Kicks Off Erasmus+ AIDEA Project in Rome

26.02.2026

Wittenborg Joins Partners in Launching AIDEA Project in Rome

Wittenborg has joined partners from across Europe for the Kick-off Meeting (KOM) of the Erasmus+ project AIDEA (Artificial Intelligence for a New Design Education Approach), held in Rome on 3 to 4 February.

The meeting brought together 14 representatives from all eight project partners, including institutions from Italy, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Austria, the Republic of North Macedonia and Ireland. Coordinated by Accademia Italiana Moda e Design with support from CIAPE, AIDEA aims to transform European design education by combining the intelligence of the hand, artificial intelligence and social intelligence.

“The Kick-off Meeting was a highly productive start for the project,” said Aydan Holtrigter, Head of Research Partnerships and International Mobility at Wittenborg. “It allowed us to dive into detailed discussions on project organisation, next steps, deadlines and coordination. We also agreed on the communication strategy and set clear KPIs for the months ahead.”

Wittenborg has previously collaborated with some partners, including CIAPE and STEP, through the INFURI project (2020–2023). The rest of the consortium were new to Wittenborg.

“Meeting partners in person was a valuable experience,” Aydan added. “It helps establish the right attitude and work ethic from the very beginning. The KOM allowed us to align approaches, define action plans, and agree on a strategy that everyone can follow moving forward.”

Also attending from Wittenborg was lecturer Robert Muster, who contributed insights on curriculum integration and the practical implementation of AI-driven design activities for students.

Over the two-day meeting, the consortium finalised timelines, clarified administrative and coordination processes, and agreed on the next steps for participatory research, creation of the Manifesto for Collective AI Design, the Handbook of teaching tools, train-the-trainer sessions, piloting with students and companies, and a pre-incubation programme that will bring AI-driven prototypes to life.

Wittenborg leads Work Package 5: Communication, Dissemination and Upscaling, coordinating the pre-incubation programme and developing the project’s communication strategy. The university also contributes to research and content creation for the Manifesto and Handbook, ensuring ethical and entrepreneurial perspectives on AI are fully integrated into the curriculum.

“KOM was not just about planning, it was about building relationships and trust,” Aydan reflected. “Starting the project on a strong, aligned footing is crucial for delivering impactful results for students and for European design education as a whole.”

Running from December 2025 to August 2028, AIDEA will provide students and staff with opportunities to explore the transformative potential of AI in design, combining research, creativity and practical application to meet real-world market needs.