Vivero de Iniciativas Ciudadanas (VIC) is a non-profit association based in Madrid, founded in 2008. The organization focuses on urban innovation by connecting citizens, institutions, and independent actors to collaboratively shape public spaces and address pressing social and environmental challenges. With roots in co-design and applied research, VIC emerged from the architecture office Estudio SIC, evolving into a platform that supports and maps citizen-led urban projects across Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.
One of VIC’s notable initiatives is Civics.cc, a digital platform that charts over 5,000 civic projects in more than 34 Latin American cities, aiming to empower grassroots communities and promote knowledge exchange. The group was a co-leader of MARES Madrid (2017–2019), an EU-supported program advancing urban resilience by piloting sustainable practices in sectors such as mobility, food, energy, and reuse. VIC’s participation extended to developing digital tools and assembling partnerships for new approaches to urban logistics, such as the Madrid Cycle-logistics platform.
The scope of VIC’s activities is broad. They organize public forums, create data-driven digital tools, and conduct hands-on urban interventions. Their recent project, "dirdaM – Reflections on Madrid," analyzed the impact of tourism on the city through public talks, research, and digital publishing, with support from Madrid's Creative Grants program. Internationally recognized, VIC’s work has been featured at the Venice Architecture Biennale and has received awards for best practices in citizen initiatives. The association continues to evolve as a link between civic motivation and urban transformation.