The research activities of MC2 (Quantitative Methods for the Measurement of Culture) at the University of Valencia date back to the mid-1990s, when several of its members made a strong commitment to developing academic research in the fields of Culture and Education. This includes the work of Salvador Carrasco and Pau Rausell, members of the Research Unit on Applied Cultural Economics, as well as Luis E. Vila, whose research has focused on the Economics of Education.

In 2007, these two research lines converged to form a single quantitative methods research unit, giving rise to MC2 and bringing together the researchers who currently constitute the group. Its mission is threefold: to develop and provide quantitative methods and analytical tools for the study of social and political sectors related to development; to advance research, innovation, and knowledge in economics, sustainability, and public policy evaluation; and to promote the transfer and practical application of research findings for the benefit of society.

Since its establishment, MC2 has participated in and contributed to numerous large-scale national and international research projects. Among the most significant are the creation of the Ibero-American Cultural Observatory (OIBC), sponsored by the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI); the evaluation of Spanish cultural cooperation commissioned by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID); the development of the Local Cultural Indicators System for the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP); and the design of an information system to support the management of the Instituto Cervantes.

During the same period, Luis E. Vila also participated in several major European higher education research projects funded by the European Union, including the REFLEX Project and the PROFLEX Project, both of which focused on graduate tracking and the transition from higher education to the labor market in Europe and Latin America.