Pillar III: Science comes to town 2028

TOPIC ID: HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme:

Call: Enhancing the European R&I system (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06)

Type of action: HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Type of MGA: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]

Status: Forthcoming

Deadline model: single-stage

Planned Opening Date: 10 December 2025

Deadline dates: 12 March 2026 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

The successful proposal will deliver on the impact “Increased alignment of research with society’s needs, expectations and values”. Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Strengthened capacity, networks and involvement of the participating cities in science communication and citizen engagement in science;
• More informed, evidence-based policymaking and increased public engagement through inclusive and participatory discussions and debates on science and R&I policy;
• Improved attractiveness of diverse careers in R&I for younger generations.

This topic supports a small group of cities in organising and hosting a joint 1-year programme “Science comes to town 2028”. The programme should have a robust concept and brand focusing on connecting citizens and science while involving all relevant stakeholders (e.g., researchers, research funders, policymakers, publishers, citizens, civil society organisations, and business community).

Various events and activities should be organised, highlighting the latest R&I developments and their contribution to society (including projects supported by national/regional/EU funds). Applicants should experiment with novel formats that are inclusive and participatory and engage diverse age and social groups at local, regional, and European levels. In project activities, particular attention should be paid to promoting inclusive gender equality and addressing gender-specific challenges. Special emphasis should be placed on exploring and supporting citizen science to promote both science education and multiple forms of public engagement with science.

In addition, the programme of activities should include the following two components:

• EUCYS (European Union Contest for Young Scientists): science competition, awarding prizes and awards, for 14- to 20-year-olds who are first prize winners of national science contests for school science projects.
• EU TalentOn (European Union Contest for Early Career Researchers): science competition, awarding prizes and awards, bringing together at least 100 early-career researchers, 21-35 of age, to work on scientific solutions to societal challenges.

The 2028 editions of EUCYS and EU TalentOn will take place in the third quarter of 2028, customarily in September^[1].

Applicants are encouraged to establish synergies with the European Researchers’ Night and the Researchers at School initiative, funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions^[2]. Programmed activities should create a link with the preceding^[3] and subsequent edition of “Science comes to town”, fostering cohesion and growth of the initiative.

The programme should take place in a minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 cities located in at least 3 different Members States and/or Associated Countries, with the majority located in Member States. The consortium can include organisations that can represent the host cities and/or join them in designing and implementing the project activities. Local partners that provide a connection to R&I should be included.

Applicants should provide commitment letters from the public authorities of each participating city, signed by the highest authorities (such as the mayor or equivalent city governance representative), demonstrating strong commitment for the activities included in the proposal. The proposal should clearly explain how the city will contribute to the initiative and outline its specific roles, resources, and support.

Proposals should demonstrate the consortium’s ability to mobilise substantial resources beyond the Union contribution, including monetary or in-kind sponsorships, to support and expand the planned activities. Applicants may choose to further increase the impact and added value by incorporating additional events and activities, financed by other resources, by engaging ‘satellite’ cities to reach more communities. The consortium will report on the implementation of the planned activities and events not covered by the grant but will not report or declare the related costs, in order to limit administrative effort.

Proposals should include the overall concept for the programmed activities, detailing the focus and scope of activities, the outreach strategy, and the contribution to the long-term vision for the cities, while specifying clearly:

a) events (including EUCYS and EU TalentOn) and activities (e.g., overall coordination and communication activities) that will be funded partially or fully by the Union contribution;

b) activities and events that will be financed by the participating cities, ‘satellite’ cities, sponsorship and other resources (i.e., activities not funded by the Union contribution).

Proposals should present a breakdown of all additional resources. Annexes should be used only for commitment letters, not for extra budget related details.

The consortium will submit a detailed draft programme of activities for approval by the granting authority, no later than three months prior to the official programme launch.

The financial support to third parties can only be provided in the form of prizes to the total amount of €70 000 for EUCYS and €100 000 for EU TalentOn.

The expected duration of the project is between 24 and 30 months.

[1] More information can be found on the contest websites (see also specific organisational aspects in the respective background notes), https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/eucys_en; https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/eu-talenton_en.

[2] https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/msca-citizens.

[3] See “Science comes to town 2027” in WIDERA work programme 2025 and “Science comes to town 2029” in WIDERA work programme 2026-2027.

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The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

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