Brussels time
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are part of the wider Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme and support researchers at all stages of their careers, across all research disciplines and in all employment sectors.
This call aims to enhance public engagement with research by organising the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools initiatives.
Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
For researchers
For organisations
Proposals should cover both the organisation of the European Researchers’ Night and the implementation of the Researchers at Schools initiative.
The European Researchers' Night takes place every year, on the last Friday of September[1]. It supports events that can last up to two days: they can start on Friday and continue the following day. Pre-events, prior to the main event, and related post-events, such as wrap-up meetings or small-scale follow-up events, can also be organised. It is the occasion for a Europe-wide public and media event for the promotion of research careers.
The European Researchers’ Night targets the general public, addressing and attracting people regardless of the level of their scientific background, with a special focus on young people and their families, pupils and students, and notably those who do not have easy access to, and thus are less inclined to engage in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) or research activities.
The Researchers at Schools initiative brings school classes to research facilities and researchers to schools or other pedagogical and educational centres. This allows researchers to interact with pupils on societal challenges and on the key role of research to address them. Pupils will thus also learn directly about research projects and initiatives related to EU main priorities.
Types of activities
European Researchers’ Night activities can combine education with entertainment, especially when addressing young audiences. They can take various forms, such as exhibitions, hands-on experiments, science shows, simulations, debates, games, competitions, quizzes, etc. Where appropriate, engagement with educational institutions should be sought in order to encourage formal and informal science education with the aim of improving the scientific knowledge base. The European Researchers’ Night should be highlighted as a European and Europe-wide event. Additionally, each proposal should promote the European Union, EU-funded research and its impact on citizens’ daily life in the most appropriate way, according to the set-up and the configuration of the event, its location and its activities.
Researchers at Schools activities will allow researchers to showcase their work and interact with pupils. They can take various forms, such as presentations, discussions, speed-dating, citizen science, science shows, summer schools, nature walks or visits to research facilities. Where appropriate, researchers should receive training ahead of the activities on science communication, especially targeting a young audience. The Researchers at Schools activities should take place at any time during the project duration and should be subject to a dedicated promotion, particularly towards schools and other pedagogical and educational centres.
Involvement of researchers funded by Horizon Europe or previous Framework Programmes, notably by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, is highly encouraged.
Both the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools initiative should promote gender balance, diversity and inclusiveness in science in terms of planned activities and researchers involved.
Where appropriate, synergies should be sought with the newly created Science Comes To Town initiative.
Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals covering activities for both 2026 and 2027, including the organisation of two successive editions (2026 and 2027) of the European Researchers’ Night and implementation of Researchers at Schools activities during the project duration.
One or more legal entities established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country.
Activities carried-out in non-associated third countries are not eligible for funding
To ensure a balanced portfolio covering the widest geographical coverage with events and activities held in as many eligible countries as possible, grants will be awarded to applications not only in order of ranking but at least also to each application that is highest ranked per country based on where the coordinator is established (including transnational consortia), provided that the applications attain all thresholds.
The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 16.25 million
The maximum requested EU contribution per proposal should not exceed EUR 350 000.
All proposals are encouraged to bring additional sources of funding.
Brussels time
