UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI MAGNA GRAECIA DI CATANZARO

Their core work

Università Magna Graecia di Catanzaro is a southern Italian university based in Calabria with two distinct lines of H2020 activity. First, they are a recurring participant in the European Researchers' Night (SuperScienceMe), organizing public engagement events that blend science communication with local cultural traditions — including sporting events, film screenings, and performances tied to Calabrian heritage. Second, they coordinate research on social finance and social entrepreneurship, exploring how alternative finance mechanisms can support social enterprises and inclusive economic models.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 involvement (2018-2020) was entirely about science outreach and public engagement — bringing research to citizens through cultural events and 'scientainment' rooted in Calabrian tradition. From 2020 onward, while continuing the Researchers' Night participation, they took on a more ambitious research role by coordinating COPERNICUS, a Marie Curie fellowship focused on social finance and social enterprises. This marks a clear shift from pure dissemination toward original research in social economics.

Moving from a supporting role in outreach projects toward building independent research capacity in social finance and inclusive economics — expect future proposals in this direction.

How they like to work

Predominantly a participant (3 of 4 projects), joining established consortia for the recurring SuperScienceMe Researchers' Night events. However, their coordination of COPERNICUS — their largest project by far at EUR 231,100 — signals growing ambition to lead. Their network is small (8 unique partners across just 2 countries), suggesting they work within a tight, regionally anchored circle rather than building wide European networks.

A compact network of 8 unique partners concentrated in just 2 countries, likely Italy-centric given the regional nature of the Researchers' Night projects. This is a locally embedded university still building its European reach.

What sets them apart

Their distinctive strength lies in combining deep roots in southern Italian (Calabrian) culture with EU-level research ambitions in social economics. Few universities offer both hands-on science engagement expertise — with creative formats like film festivals and sporting events involving researchers — and serious academic work on social finance. For consortium builders, they offer a credible Italian partner with strong community connections and growing expertise in the social enterprise ecosystem.

Highlights from their portfolio

• COPERNICUS
  Their only coordinated project and by far their largest (EUR 231,100), a Marie Curie fellowship on social finance — marks their transition from outreach participant to research leader.
• SuperScienceMe (2020-2021)
  Second iteration of their Researchers' Night involvement introduced broader themes like 'scientainment' and social inclusion, showing evolution beyond simple public events.