Sign in
Head of Research
My name is Fabienne Trotte, I am Head of Research, Innovation and Training at Relais Culture Europe, the French Creative Europe Desk. Trained in cultural management and geopolitics, I have developed expertise in European cultural cooperation and public policies. Based in Paris, I have been supporting cultural organisations in designing European projects since the early 2000s. I have worked on EU research and innovation projects such as the Horizon 2020 MESOC project (measuring the societal impacts of culture) and the trans-making project on culture, democracy and societal transitions, both now completed. I am currently involved in the Horizon Europe IDEAL project, focused on inclusive democratic engagement and language technologies in Europe.
Meet the professional
As Head of Research, Innovation and Training at Relais Culture Europe, my daily work involves following up the implementation of European research and innovation projects, advising cultural actors on EU funding opportunities, and running workshops on designing European cooperation projects. My role sits at the crossroads of culture, public policy and innovation, with links to STEM through the use of digital tools and participatory technologies in European projects. For example, my current involvement in the IDEAL project leads me to work with researchers exploring democratic engagement, social innovation and language technologies in Europe.
Skills
Administrative skills
"Used daily to manage budgets, contracts, calendars and reporting obligations for EU-funded projects."
Collaboration
"Used to work in international teams with universities, cultural organisations and NGOs, sharing tasks and decisions to move projects forward."
Writing
"Used to draft project applications, reports, and training materials in clear language different audiences can understand."
Project management
"Used to structure applications, monitor progress and organise meetings so multi-partner projects reach their objectives."
Active listening
"Used in meetings and workshops to understand cultural organisations' needs, constraints and expectations before proposing project directions."
Critical thinking
"Used to evaluate project ideas, test their relevance for EU cultural cooperation, and choose the most robust approaches."
Advice to take away
Choosing this kind of work means choosing a demanding, long-term career, so it is important to move forward step by step, with curiosity and clarity. It is about building a solid foundation in social sciences (culture, European policies, geopolitics, democracy, citizenship) and combining it with very practical skills: project writing, management, languages and digital tools. You can look for concrete experiences (internships, student projects, volunteering in cultural organisations) to understand how cooperation really works between cultural actors, universities, cities and NGOs. This can help mix academic knowledge with field work and make the most of every opportunity for mobility and European projects, to get used early to cooperation, and to multilingual and multicultural environments.
Check out the materials
Disclaimer
This Career sheet has been provided by means of the IDEAL project. Scientix® is an initiative of European Schoolnet®.