Call for Participants: “Exposing the Invisible - Investigation Residency” | 30 September - 2 October 2026 | Berlin, Germany | Deadline: 5 July 2026

Join our "Exposing the Invisible Investigation Residency" in Berlin to experience an engaging 3-day gathering where you will share skills and experiences, and leverage innovative methods for your investigation projects! This year’s residency will focus on the topics: AI and Us, Growing Up with Tech, and Mapping the Depths of the Ocean. We will leverage the benefits of tech, while critically approaching its many challenges and power imbalances, to better address the visible and invisible crises affecting our lives on this planet these days.

Application deadline: 5 July 2026

Places available: 30 (see below for travel funding eligibility)

In a nutshell

• What? A 3 day Investigation Residency focused on learning and exchanging critical investigation practices, topics, method and tools for those passionate about digital and field investigations and collaborative initiatives to expose the invisible. The Residency will focus on three topics: AI and Us, Growing Up with Tech, Mapping the Depths of the Ocean.

• Who? EU-based journalists, fact-checkers, researchers, OSINT investigators, investigative artists, and other members of civil society with experience and passion for investigations in the public interest.

• Why? To share expertise, knowledge, skills and resources around digital and field investigations on key topics affecting our societies today with the aim to develop new creative ideas and collaborations. 

• When? 30 September - 2 October 2026, full days, with arrival on the 29th of September and departure on late 2nd October or 3rd of October.

• Where? Berlin, Germany

• Application deadline: 1 July 2026, midnight CET (Central European Time)

• Application form: Fill out the online application form listed below in the section "How to apply?". Please read the entire call and participants’ eligibility details before applying.

• Organizer: Tactical Tech as part of the Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI)

• Funding: International return travel from/to one of the above-mentioned locations, and local subsistence in Berlin (accommodation, 2 meals/day, local travel, travel insurance) can be provided by organisers for up to 20 participants from the eligible regions. 10 additional places are available for local (Berlin based) participants who do not require travel and accommodation support. Participants from other regions who wish to apply will need to secure their own funding if selected.  

• Language: The Residency will be held in English. A working level of the language is necessary to ensure overall collaboration and a smooth facilitation of the event. 

What is the residency about?

Hosted by Tactical Tech in Berlin, the Residency invites experienced EU-based investigators who value collaboration, skill-sharing, creativity and integrity in uncovering evidence that can help address the crises we face today. This year’s gathering will focus on three major topics affecting our societies today: AI and Us; Growing Up with Tech; Mapping the Depths of the Ocean.

The Residency will provide a safe and engaging space for:

• learning new methods and sharing skills,
• exchanging enriching experiences, initiatives and solutions from across borders and professions,
• identifying new collaboration opportunities among participants, and
• generating new investigation ideas a that can address problems, engage audiences and serve the public interest.  

Participants will have a unique opportunity to access diverse knowledge networks, research methodologies and resources for more creative and impactful investigations.

The Residency will take place between 30 September - 2 October 2026 in Berlin, Germany, in Publix - a home for local and cross-border media organisations promoting media freedom and journalistic innovation. 

Topics

The 2026 Residency will focus on three major topics affecting our societies today: AI and Us, Growing Up with Tech, Mapping the Depths of the Ocean.

These topics will shape the main sessions and working groups of the Residency. Participants will be asked to indicate their topic of expertise/interest in their application.

You should consider applying if you have skills, experience and interest in investigating within the three major topics and indicated sub-areas:

• AI and Us — AI systems; tech innovation. politics and powers in the tech sector; tech finances and connections across various sectors; global politics behind AI; emotional dependency on Gen AI; AI and environment; AI tools that help investigations.

• Growing Up With Tech — young people caught in the machine; business models monetizing youth’s tech addictions; influence, dis/misinformation, and related power (im)balance; data collection and investigation techniques.

• Mapping the Depths of the Ocean — the depth of mapping: who, why and how is mapping the bottom of the seas and oceans? Who has the data? How can we make use of the data to explore and investigate more of the issues affecting the Ocean? (think of seep-sea mining and far beyond).

NOTE:

Applicants should indicate interest for one or maximum two topics and have demonstrated experience working in areas relevant to the topics - e.g. conducting investigations or research, writing guides for research and investigation, running workshops / designing workshop curricula, creating initiatives / projects / installations etc.

When approaching these topics in your application think of not just tools, standard methods and raw data but of new, creative and accessible approaches, ways of telling stories or creating interventions for more community engagement and real impact, critical perspectives to existing coverage of these themes, new ways of acquiring data where there is none or access is limited/restricted, issues of access and power privileges and imbalances, etc. We are looking to bring together and facilitate a community of participants with expertise, inspiration as well as real-life impact drive and collaborative intentions across various skills-sets and contexts.

What will we do?

We will use various session and activity formats to share, learn and collaborate:

• Plenary Sessions — bringing together all participants for shared presentations, discussions, and keynote talks, fostering a collective learning experience and setting the stage for collaborative efforts.

• Thematic Workshops — led by invited experts, delve into specific topics relevant to the Residency’s main topics, providing in-depth knowledge and actionable skills tailored to the participants' investigative interests.

• Skillshares by Participants — allowing participants to present and share their unique skills and expertise with the group, facilitating peer-to-peer learning and cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange.

• Informal Networking and Collaboration-shaping Opportunities — in which participants can self-organise in thematic discussion groups or social events.

Who is the Residency for?

Apply if you:

• Are a journalist (freelance, affiliated with independent media, journalism networks or NGOs), fact-checker, researcher, OSINT investigator, investigative artist, scientist, etc., with experience and passion for investigations in the public interest (see regional eligibility for funding in the Note above).

• Have demonstrated experience with reporting, researching or investigating in the context of any of the three Residency Themes detailed above.

• Are investigating with a focus on local / regional / cross-border issues and have fewer opportunities to access in-person, cross-border collaborations and skill-sharing events.

• Wish to further develop and diversify your expertise as well as to share your skills and knowledge with like-minded others in a highly collaborative environment.

• Are a resident of one of the regions mentioned in the above eligibility requirements. Please note that costs can be covered only for participants from the above-mentioned locations. Self-funded applicants can apply from any region.

• Are committed to attend for the entire length of the Residency as this is mandatory for accepted participants.

How to apply?

To apply, please fill in this Application Form - by 5 July 2026 (midnight Central European Summer Time: https://lime.ttc.io/index.php/94313?lang=en

In your application:

• please indicate one main topic (max. two) out of the three where you have a proven record of working / investigating.

• share examples of your work and ideas for possible collaboration with other participants, focusing one of the three indicated Residency topics.

Please note that the Residency will be held in English. A working level of the language is necessary to ensure overall collaboration and a smooth facilitation of the sessions.

Selection process

• We aim to bring together a maximum of 30 participants (20 international, 10 local).
• Our team of journalists and researchers from Tactical Tech and project partners will review the applications, balancing experience, skills, diversity, needs and everyone’s ability to both gain from, and contribute to this gathering. 
• Applications will be reviewed and considered on a rolling basis, therefore we encourage you to apply early in the process as funded places might fill up by the deadline.
• We will inform shortlisted applicants in early August 2026. We may invite shortlisted applicants for a brief call before taking a final decision. Applicants who did not make it on the shortlist will be informed by the end of August.

Contact

If you have any questions about the Residency and the application process, please contact us at eti@tacticaltech.org

ABOUT US

Tactical Tech is a creative international NGO with over 22 years of experience dedicated to investigating and mitigating the profound impact of technology on our societies. We work with investigators and educators to enable evidence-driven decisions and actions.

This Residency is organised in the framework of the EU-funded Collaborative and Investigative Journalism Initiative (CIJI), an EU-funded project carried out in partnership with Tactical Tech, Reporters Without Borders, Free Press Unlimited, Fundacja Reporterów, OBC Transeuropa, and Delfi. CIJI aims to equip independent media outlets and individual journalists with resources, innovative networking infrastructure and standards-based methods that enable them to practice high-quality, and ethical and accountable collaborative and investigative journalism. More at:https://www.ciji.info/

Disclaimer:

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.