A new consortium led by SocialTech Lab (Cyprus), together with the Society and Urban Form (SURF) Lab (Cyprus) at the University of Cyprus, KARMA Mixed Reality Lab (Türkiye) at Koç University, and Aks Creative Hub (Türkiye), has been selected to join the New European Bauhaus Academy (NEBA) South Hub, a major European initiative focused on transforming the built environment through sustainability, inclusion, and beauty. 

The consortium joins the NEBA South Hub, established by founding partners IAAC (Spain), Cesefor (Spain), and Regione Liguria (Italy), as part of the NEBA Alliance, a Europe-wide effort co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).

The NEBA South Hub aims to upskill youth and professionals in the construction and built environment sectors through high-quality, accessible learning. By focusing on lifelong learning, circularity, and innovation, the hub supports the transition to a carbon-neutral, inclusive, and aesthetically rich built environment, in line with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values.

“Joining the NEBA Alliance marks an exciting step forward for our consortium of partners as we work to support and amplify innovation in the built environment across South Europe and the East Med, rooted in the shared values of sustainability” says Steven W. Stavrou, Co-Founder, Director of Strategy & Impact of SocialTech Lab.

As part of its NEBA South Hub activities, the East Med partners will:

• Develop two lifelong learning programs focused on human-centered design, circularity, hybrid cities, and prototyping in the built environment.

• Publish two open-access courses on the NEBA Academy platform.

• Engage youth and creatives across South Europe and East Med through a series of learning events and mentorship initiatives.

The project builds on years of experience across the four partner organizations in architecture, design thinking, technology, commercialisation and community-driven innovation. The initiative also aims to address the systemic challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean, including unemployment, exclusion, and climate vulnerability, by creating pathways to education, economic empowerment, and inclusive design.

The consortium’s activities are set to launch in the coming months, with updates on the in-person training and public access to learning materials available through the official NEBA Academy platform.

“‘The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.’”

SocialTech Lab: SocialTech Lab works at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding to bridge divides, empower local change-makers, solve social and environmental challenges, and cultivate resilient ecosystems in conflict-affected regions. Through its platforms, SocialTech Lab provides transformative digital tools and live programs (e.g., CyprusInno), as well as physical resources (e.g., The Base by CyprusInno) that enable local entrepreneurs to thrive, driving economic growth and social progress in even the most challenging environments.

The Society and Urban Form (SURF) Lab: The Society and Urban Form (SURF) Lab is a multidisciplinary research lab dedicated to understanding and improving the relationship between society and the built environment. At SURF, we explore how cities shape the lives of people—and how people, in turn, shape cities. We believe that urban space is not neutral; it is both a reflection of society and an active force in shaping it. Through research, education, and design, we seek to understand and transform this reciprocal relationship between society and urban form, advancing more inclusive, resilient, and just urban futures.

Bridging research and practice, SURF translates scientific evidence from spatial analysis into actionable insights for communities, urban design and policy-making. Combining evidence-based design and planning with public engagement, cross-sector collaboration, and policy-oriented insights, the lab advances socially progressive, sustainable, and healthy urban environments while promoting just, inclusive, and resilient urban futures.

Koç University, KARMA Mixed Reality Lab: Established in 2019, KARMA Mixed Reality Lab brings together multi-disciplinary teams to design, research, and develop tailored solutions for better learning, wellbeing, accessible cultural heritage, and scalable industry solutions. KARMA Lab's mission is to advance research, develop and apply new interactive media, in short, XR technologies for scalable solutions in socially beneficial areas.

AKS Creative Hub: Aks is a strategic design studio and association based in Ankara, Turkey, working at the intersection of architecture, design, urban planning, and culture. Founded in 2019, Aks began as a young-led collective aiming to bring together creative disciplines across universities. Over time, it has evolved into a recognized platform and creative hub led by young professionals for interdisciplinary collaboration and urban innovation. Aks envisions a future where cities are collectively shaped through creative and sustainable practices. Community-based design, spatial justice, and gamification are at the core of our work, using these tools to mobilize participation and reimagine urban life. By bringing together young designers, architects, urban planners, and artists, we co-design interventions that challenge traditional approaches to public space and urban development.