The FUTUREBODY project, a German-Austrian-Canadian collaboration funded under ERA-Net NEURON’s ELSA-JTC2017, examined the implications of recent and future progress in neurotechnology for society and our understanding of the human body and mind. The project ran from 2017 to 2022.

The Scope of Neurotechnology

Neurotechnology comprises a set of rapidly evolving technologies that interact with nerves, sensory organs, or the brain (hence "neuro"), aiming to restore bodily functions, enhance human capabilities beyond normal functions (human enhancement), or enable machine control through brainwaves. While medical applications—such as neuroprosthetics—are central to the field, non-medical applications, for example for gaming, are also gaining traction.

Bio Fiction film fetsival
Science Art Film Festival, September 23 & 24, 2019 in Vienna, © Biofaction

Neurotechnology is at the core of techno-scientific visions where human corporeality—the body and mind—merges with technology. Some anticipate a long-term future in which the human body is fully mechanized or even replaced. These far-reaching ideas have gained prominence under the umbrella of transhumanism, especially due to promotion by influential figures in the IT sector such as Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Bill Gates and others. Interestingly, as we developed the project design, news emerged that Musk had founded Neuralink, aiming to create implantable multi-purpose brain-computer interfaces, while Facebook (now Meta) had hired engineers to work on body-external neurotech devices for applications such as gaming.

"The FUTUREBODY project was a unique and highly positive experience—not only for us as researchers but also for the many individuals we interacted with, as reflected in the feedback we received. This uniqueness stemmed from the diversity of disciplines, methods, and people involved in the project."
Christopher Coenen, coordinator of FUTUREBODY

Key Research Contributions: Ethics, Society, and Human Enhancement

Against this backdrop, FUTUREBODY explored the ethical and societal challenges posed by neurotechnology and the broader implications of technological advancements for the human body. We also analyzed the techno-visionary discourse surrounding the field, which has become even more prominent due to the increased political and pop-cultural influence of Musk, Thiel, and others.

The project contributed new philosophical perspectives, particularly through the development of the concept “cyberbilities”, an activity led by Oliver Müller, PI of the second German partner University of Freiburg, and offered fresh insights into debates on human enhancement since the late 20th century. A central element of our research was interacting and gathering perspectives from neurotechnology and (other) prosthetic technologies users, as well as professionals working in related fields. Public engagement played a key role in our approach, and we applied innovative methods in science communication and co-creation to explore questions such as:

A major public component of the project was the BIO·FICTION Science Art Film Festival in Vienna in September 2019, led by the Austrian FUTUREBODY partner Biofaction, with Markus Schmidt as PI. This festival featured:

  • A short film competition
  • Transdisciplinary discussions
  • A brain-computer interface demonstration
  • A Leonardo LASER Talk

Engaging the Public: BIO·FICTION and FUTUREBODY Events

Following the festival, selected short films were used in BIO·FICTION@Tour public events and Film World Cafés, a methodological innovation first tested in FUTUREBODY in Austria, Canada, and Germany.

  • What does it mean to be “normal” when using technological tools?
  • How do technological modifications change our perception of self and others?

Particularly crucial was the inclusion of disabled people’s perspectives. We further developed ability studies, a field pioneered by Gregor Wolbring from the University of Calgary, the principal investigator for the Canadian FUTUREBODY team.

In 2022, as the project neared its conclusion, we organized the FUTUREBODY Gathering, an innovative experimental public event at Technical University (TU) Berlin. Co-organized by the German FUTUREBODY partners (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology & University of Freiburg) in collaboration with TU Berlin’s Ethics Lab, this event brought together neurotechnology researchers, social scientists, humanities scholars, professionals working with the human body—such as tattoo artists, yoga practitioners, bodyworkers, and performance artists—as well as activists, including members of the Berlin Cyborgs e.V..

Each panel integrated diverse expertise, fostering lively, meaningful and direct exchanges on the present and future of the human body from various theoretical or practical perspectives. In addition to these creative collisions of different worlds of thought and practice, the event featured dance and art performances, creating an immersive exploration of bodily and technological transformation. The event concluded with a BIO·FICTION@Tour screening and a public panel discussion.

Cinema entrance, BIO FICTION 2019 - Science Art Filmfestival at Stadtkino, Wien, Austria
Cinema entrance, BIO FICTION 2019 - Science Art Filmfestival at Stadtkino, Wien, Austria; © Biofaction

Academic Impact and Ongoing Influence

The FUTUREBODY project has made a significant academic contribution, resulting in a substantial number of journal articles and book chapters, particularly in the fields of (dis)ability studies and philosophy. These include two articles in a forthcoming handbook on the ethics of human enhancement, as well as publications specifically aimed at the neuroscience community (see highlighted publications below).

Beyond academic research, FUTUREBODY has inspired art-science collaborations at major medical technology conferences in 2023, as well as a public event in Vienna on neurotechnology in 2024, which was designed based on the Berlin FUTUREBODY Gathering. Further BIO·FICTION screenings are planned, and additional publications with project results are expected in 2025 and beyond.

Acknowledgment and Final Thoughts

Despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, FUTUREBODY successfully carried out its research, outreach, and dissemination efforts. We deeply appreciate the support of ERA-Net NEURON, not only for its cooperation throughout the project but especially for its flexible, humane, and results-oriented approach in responding to the pandemic’s impact on our work.

"The Future is the Technological Human Body in Light of its Present & Past"; Event flyer Futurebody, The Gathering, September 2, 2022;
"The Future is the Technological Human Body in Light of its Present & Past"; Event flyer Futurebody, The Gathering, September 2, 2022; © Christopher Coenen

Publication highlights:

Borrmann, V.; Coenen, C.; Gerstgrasser, L.; Albers, E.; Müller, O.; Kellmeyer, P. 2023. Resurrecting the ‘body’: phenomenological perspectives on embodiment. The Routledge Handbook of the Ethics of Human Enhancement, Eds.: Fabrice Jotterand, Marcello Ienca, 87–102, Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003105596-9

Coenen, C. 2023. Spotlights on the history of human enhancement discourse. The Routledge Handbook of the Ethics of Human Enhancement, Eds.: Fabrice Jotterand, Marcello Ienca, 18–29, Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003105596-4

Salvatore, C., Sami, S., Youssef, S. et al. 2025. Perception and reaction of undergraduate critical disability studies students to six short films depicting neuro-advancements. Nanoethics 19, 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11569-025-00467-y

Seyfried G., Youssef S., Schmidt M. 2023. Pioneering neurohackers: between egocentric human enhancement and altruistic sacrifice. Frontiers in Neuroscience. (Sec. Neural Technology). https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2023.1188066

Teunisse W., Youssef S., Schmidt M. 2019. Human enhancement through the lens of experimental and speculative neurotechnologies. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies. DOI: 10.1002/hbe2.179