Pillar III: Science comes to town 2028

The Horizon Europe call for proposals titled "Science comes to town 2028" (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07) aims to enhance the alignment of research with societal needs and is a Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) under the HORIZON framework. This initiative supports a consortium of cities in organizing a one-year program focused on science communication and citizen engagement, facilitating connections between citizens and researchers amid promises of new research and innovation developments.

The opportunity invites applications from consortiums composed of a minimum of three independent legal entities based in at least three different Member States or Associated Countries, with at least two entities required to be from Member States. The proposal must include commitment letters from public authorities of each city involved.

The funding amount for this initiative is approximately €6,000,000, with the expectation that one significant grant will be awarded to a selected consortium. The funding structure emphasizes co-financing, where applicants must demonstrate an ability to mobilize additional resources beyond the EU contribution, which can include monetary or in-kind sponsorships.

The project operates at the implementation stage and requires a single-stage application process with a submission period opening on December 10, 2025, and closing on March 12, 2026. Successful proposals are expected to engage various stakeholders, including local authorities, civil society, and the business community, to foster inclusive discussions on science and research policies.

Activities must encompass innovative formats promoting citizen involvement in science, and the program is to include events such as the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) and the European Union TalentOn for early-career researchers. Both competitions will culminate in the third quarter of 2028.

Consortiums are encouraged to structure their activities across three to six cities, enhancing urban engagement with science, and promoting aspects like gender equality and citizen science. The project duration is expected to be between 24 to 30 months, with detailed program drafts required three months before the launch.

Overall, this funding opportunity facilitates a holistic approach to making science more relatable and engaging for the public, ultimately appealing to younger generations to consider careers in research and innovation while strengthening evidence-based policymaking through connected discussions.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call for proposals under the Enhancing the European R&I system (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06) program, specifically targeting the "Science comes to town 2028" initiative. The call aims to increase the alignment of research with society's needs, expectations, and values. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] model grant agreement.

The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline of March 12, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The opening date was December 10, 2025.

The expected outcomes of successful proposals include:

Strengthened capacity, networks, and involvement of 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.

The scope of the call involves supporting a small group of cities in organizing and hosting a joint 1-year program called "Science comes to town 2028". The program should have a strong concept and brand that connects citizens and science, involving all relevant stakeholders such as researchers, research funders, policymakers, publishers, citizens, civil society organizations, and the business community.

The program should include various events and activities that highlight the latest R&I developments and their contributions to society, including projects supported by national, regional, and EU funds. Applicants are encouraged to experiment with novel, inclusive, and participatory formats that engage diverse age and social groups at local, regional, and European levels. The program should also promote inclusive gender equality and address gender-specific challenges, with a special emphasis on citizen science to promote science education and public engagement.

The program of activities must include two components:

EUCYS (European Union Contest for Young Scientists): A science competition for 14- to 20-year-olds who have won first prize in national science contests for school science projects.
EU TalentOn (European Union Contest for Early Career Researchers): A science competition that brings together at least 100 early-career researchers, aged 21-35, 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, typically in September.

Applicants are encouraged to create synergies with the European Researchers’ Night and the Researchers at School initiative, funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The activities should also link with the preceding and subsequent editions of "Science comes to town" to foster cohesion and growth.

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

Applicants must provide commitment letters from the public authorities of each participating city, signed by the highest authorities (e.g., mayor), demonstrating strong commitment to 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 mobilize substantial resources beyond the Union contribution, including monetary or in-kind sponsorships, to support and expand the planned activities. Applicants may choose to incorporate additional events and activities, financed by other resources, by engaging ‘satellite’ cities to reach more communities. The consortium will report on the implementation of planned activities and events not covered by the grant but will not report or declare the related costs.

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. The proposal should clearly specify:

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.
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 program of activities for approval by the granting authority no later than three months prior to the official program launch.

Financial support to third parties can only be provided in the form of prizes, with a 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.

The admissibility conditions include proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries have specific provisions for funding.

Other eligible conditions require applications to be submitted by a consortium including participation, as beneficiaries, of at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different Member State or Associated Country, with two of them established in a Member State. The participating city hosting EUCYS 2028 must provide a commitment from its National EUCYS Organizer.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Subcontracting is not restricted. Beneficiaries must provide financial support to third parties in the form of prizes, with a maximum amount of EUR 60,000 per third party. Legal and financial set-up is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including a standard application form (HE CSA). Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including a standard evaluation form (HE CSA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the HE MGA. Call-specific instructions and information on financial support to third parties are available. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, rules for legal entity validation, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

The total budget for this topic is EUR 6,000,000. The opening date for submissions is December 10, 2025, and the deadline is March 12, 2026. The estimated contribution ranges from EUR 2,000,000 to EUR 3,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 1.

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This funding opportunity, "Science comes to town 2028," is a call for cities and research institutions to team up and create a year-long program that brings science closer to the public. It's all about making research and innovation more accessible and engaging for everyday citizens. The EU wants to fund projects that not only showcase the latest scientific advancements but also get people involved in discussions about science policy and encourage young people to pursue careers in research. To be eligible, you need a consortium of cities from different EU countries, and your program needs to include events like science competitions for young people and early-career researchers. The goal is to make science more relevant and exciting for everyone, bridging the gap between the lab and the living room.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include researchers, research funders, policymakers, publishers, citizens, civil society organisations, and the business community. The call specifically targets a consortium of cities, requiring commitment letters from public authorities (e.g., mayors). The consortium must include at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different Member State or Associated Country, with at least two of them being in a Member State.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. The call also involves HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions [HORIZON-CSA] and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions [HORIZON-RIA]. Financial support to third parties is provided in the form of prizes.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. The consortium must include at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different Member State or Associated Country, with at least two of them being in a Member State.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The program is open to cities located in Member States and/or Associated Countries. The program 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. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets sectors related to science communication, citizen engagement in science, research and innovation (R&I) policy, education, and public engagement. It also touches upon culture through events like the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) and the European Union TalentOn (EU TalentOn).

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity is open to Member States and Associated Countries of the EU. No specific countries are mentioned, but the geographic eligibility is defined by membership in these categories.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the implementation and coordination of activities, specifically organizing and hosting a joint program. This suggests a stage geared towards demonstration and implementation rather than basic research or early-stage development.

Funding Amount: The budget overview provides specific budget allocations for different HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA topics. For HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07, the budget is EUR 6,000,000, and it is expected that one grant will be awarded around EUR 6,000,000. Other topics within the same call have varying budgets and expected contribution ranges, from around EUR 1,000,000 to EUR 3,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant. They will also provide financial support to third parties in the form of prizes.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants for each topic is specified in the budget overview. For HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07, one grant is expected. For other topics, the number of grants varies from 2 to 8.

Co-funding Requirement: Proposals should demonstrate the consortium’s ability to mobilize substantial resources beyond the Union contribution, including monetary or in-kind sponsorships. This indicates a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, Enhancing the European R&I system (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06), specifically the topic "Science comes to town 2028" (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07), aims to increase the alignment of research with society’s needs, expectations, and values. It supports a consortium of cities in organizing and hosting a joint 1-year program to connect citizens and science. The program should involve various stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, and the business community, and feature events highlighting R&I developments. Key components include the EUCYS and EU TalentOn competitions.

The call requires a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from different Member States or Associated Countries, with a majority located in Member States. Applicants must provide commitment letters from participating cities' public authorities. Proposals should demonstrate the ability to mobilize additional resources beyond the EU contribution. The funding is provided as a grant, with a budget of approximately EUR 6,000,000 for the HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-07 topic, and the project duration is expected to be between 24 and 30 months. The call is a single-stage open call with a deadline of March 12, 2026. The successful project is expected to strengthen science communication, improve evidence-based policymaking, and increase the attractiveness of R&I careers.