Cultural Research & Innovation

Connecting cultural heritage, participation and sustainability with transdisciplinary research

(WHO WE ARE)

MENTOR in Culture is a cultural research and innovation agency that connects local realities with European strategies. With roots in Greece’s startup ecosystem, we specialize in applied cultural research, digital heritage, community participation, and policy-driven design.
Our interdisciplinary team works across culture, technology, and sustainability to co-create impactful projects with communities, institutions, and public authorities.

We design frameworks that transform cultural needs into European-funded solutions — grounded in Agenda 21 for Culture and aligned with EU values.

(A TRUSTED CULTURAL NETWORK)

We collaborate with museums, universities, municipalities, and civil society organizations across Europe. Our network enables cultural knowledge transfer, interdisciplinary partnerships, and implementation of EU-funded initiatives across heritage, social innovation, and digital transformation.

(FROM LOCAL NEEDS TO EUROPEAN IMPACT)

We translate local knowledge into research and innovation projects. Through participatory methods, fieldwork, and stakeholder engagement, we create proposals aligned with European priorities such as the Green Deal, New European Bauhaus, cultural well-being, and inclusive governance.

(OUR MISSION)

We believe culture shapes every aspect of life — from education and health to urban planning and technology.
Our mission is to empower communities through adaptive cultural practices and participatory tools, promoting sustainability, equity, and innovation rooted in place.

(OUR VISION)

We envision culture as a dynamic force for collective transformation. Heritage becomes a tool for shaping the future. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, we develop cultural ecosystems that activate imagination, co-creation, and democratic space.

(OUR VALUES)

• Cultural Centrality: Culture drives inclusive development.
• Participation: People and communities co-create the process.
• Transformative Heritage: We reinterpret the past to shape shared futures.
• Interdisciplinarity: We blend arts, sciences, and technology.
• Justice & Inclusion: Equity is the basis of all cultural work.
• Sustainability: Culture as an engine for long-term resilience.
• Creative Responsibility: Culture is our ethical commitment to society.
  
  

(OUR EXPERTISE)

We design research strategies that transform culture into a catalyst for innovation and policy relevance.
We address major gaps in research practice — from low civic participation to weak policy impact — by applying interdisciplinary and participatory approaches tailored to each case.

(RESEARCH & METHODOLOGICAL EXPERTISE)

We specialize in co-creation, arts-based research, and community-centered methods.Fields of expertise include:

• Cultural heritage and collective memory
• Place-based development
• Digital storytelling and immersive interpretation
• Cultural impact evaluation
• Participatory design (e.g. bodystorming, co-design walks, speculative labs).
  
  

(TECHNICAL & OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES)

We offer full-cycle project support — from concept to coordination.

Our services include:

• Research tool design and implementation
• Community engagement strategies
• Work Package leadership and EU coordination
• Digital platforms for cultural content
• Policy foresight and impact frameworks.
  
  

(FROM FIELD TO PROPOSAL)

We design EU projects rooted in real needs. Our methods bridge field experience and EU policy goals.

Our methodology includes:

• Needs mapping & participatory fieldwork
• Co-design with local actors
• Interdisciplinary expertise
• RRI-based inclusive research
• Policy alignment and sustainability planning.
  
  

(FOCUS AREAS FOR FUTURE COLLABORATIONS)

MENTOR in Culture actively participates in Horizon Europe Cluster 2 projects that link culture with innovation and social change.

Our priority areas include:

• Cultural well-being & health (HERITAGE-09)
• Green & digital transitions in heritage (HERITAGE-07)
• Participatory governance & civic engagement
• Creative transformation of public space
• AI, ethics & cultural data justice
• New European Bauhaus synergies.
  
  

Check out our research projects here!

Interested in working together or designing a proposal? Let’s connect.