EPISTIMI EPIKOINONIA

Their core work

Epistimi Epikoinonia (Science Communication) is a Greek NGO specializing in science communication, public engagement, and STEM outreach. They organize and support Researchers' Night events across the Athens area, design open schooling programs, and help EU research projects communicate their results to the public. Their core work bridges the gap between scientific research and society — translating complex science into accessible formats for citizens, students, and communities.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

From 2014 to 2018, their work centered almost entirely on Researchers' Night events — annual public engagement festivals promoting science careers and the social value of research. Starting in 2019, they diversified significantly into structured education programs (open schooling, maker education, FabLabs) and began supporting technical research projects like WATER-MINING as a communication partner. This shift suggests a move from event-based science popularization toward embedded, year-round science communication integrated into both education systems and applied research consortia.

They are evolving from one-off public events toward becoming an embedded dissemination and education partner within technical research consortia, making them increasingly useful for projects needing professional communication and public engagement work packages.

How they like to work

Epistimi Epikoinonia has never coordinated an H2020 project — they join as participants or third parties, consistently taking supporting roles in communication, dissemination, and public engagement. With 80 unique partners across 20 countries from just 7 projects, they operate within large, diverse consortia rather than small focused teams. This pattern indicates they are a reliable, low-maintenance partner that integrates well into large projects without demanding a leading role.

Despite their small size, they have built a broad network of 80 partners across 20 countries, primarily through large CSA and Innovation Action consortia. Their geographic anchor is Athens and the broader Mediterranean region, but their partner network spans most of Europe.

What sets them apart

As a dedicated science communication NGO, they fill a niche that universities and research institutes often struggle with: making research results accessible and engaging for non-expert audiences. Their repeat involvement in Researchers' Night events over seven years demonstrates proven reliability in public engagement delivery. For consortium builders, they offer a ready-made dissemination and outreach capability — particularly valuable for projects that need strong public engagement or education work packages but lack in-house communication expertise.

Highlights from their portfolio

• OSHub
  Their largest funded project (EUR 62,125), marking a strategic shift from events to structured open schooling and citizen empowerment through STEAM education.
• WATER-MINING
  Their first involvement in a technical environmental research project (circular economy, desalination, resource recovery), demonstrating capacity to communicate complex applied science.
• MEDNIGHT
  Expanded Researchers' Night concept to the entire Mediterranean region, addressing gender gap and cultural heritage alongside traditional science communication.