European Researchers' Night and Researchers at Schools 2026-2027
MSCA and Citizens
Funding Amount
€100K - €350K
Deadline
22/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the European Researchers' Night and Researchers at Schools 2026-2027 Call?
Grant Description
This action funds coordination and support activities to bring research closer to the public through two complementary initiatives: the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools. It addresses the need to improve public awareness and understanding of research and innovation, enhance researchers’ communication skills, and raise young people’s interest in science. Expected outputs include Europe-wide public events, educational activities in schools and research facilities, and strength...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
For researchers:
• Enhanced opportunities to interact with citizens and local, regional and national authorities.
• Improved communication skills and competences to engage non-research audiences, notably pupils and students.
For organisations:
• Increased reputation and visibility among the general public and potential future students as hosts of excellent research projects.
• Researchers’ work rendered more tangible, concrete and accessible, opening research and science to all audiences.
• Improved outreach across Europe, notably to under-served audiences with limited access to science and research activities.
• Better communication of R&I results and activities, strengthening opportunities for citizens’ engagement.
Broader impacts:
• Enhanced public engagement with research and innovation.
• Increased public awareness of the importance and benefits of EU-funded R&I and its concrete impact on daily life.
• Diffusion and promotion of excellent research projects across as many participating countries as possible.
• Raised interest of young people in science and research careers.
• Support to teachers and educators in developing a scientific approach and creating learning opportunities through direct researcher–pupil interaction.
• Enhanced opportunities to interact with citizens and local, regional and national authorities.
• Improved communication skills and competences to engage non-research audiences, notably pupils and students.
For organisations:
• Increased reputation and visibility among the general public and potential future students as hosts of excellent research projects.
• Researchers’ work rendered more tangible, concrete and accessible, opening research and science to all audiences.
• Improved outreach across Europe, notably to under-served audiences with limited access to science and research activities.
• Better communication of R&I results and activities, strengthening opportunities for citizens’ engagement.
Broader impacts:
• Enhanced public engagement with research and innovation.
• Increased public awareness of the importance and benefits of EU-funded R&I and its concrete impact on daily life.
• Diffusion and promotion of excellent research projects across as many participating countries as possible.
• Raised interest of young people in science and research careers.
• Support to teachers and educators in developing a scientific approach and creating learning opportunities through direct researcher–pupil interaction.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Proposals must cover both ERN and RAS strands throughout the project duration.
• Organise two successive editions of ERN (2026 and 2027), each on the last Friday of September, with events lasting up to two days (including pre- and post-events).
• Implement RAS activities at any time during the project, ensuring direct interaction on societal challenges and EU research priorities.
• Target the general public, with special focus on young people, families, pupils, students, and those with limited access to STEAM fields.
• Ensure wide geographic coverage (regional, national and cross-border partnerships) to avoid overlaps and reflect European scope.
• Promote the ERN and RAS initiatives as Europe-wide events highlighting the EU, EU-funded research, Open Science and Responsible Research & Innovation.
• Involve researchers funded by Horizon Europe or previous Framework Programmes (especially MSCA).
• Advance gender balance, diversity and inclusiveness in science through activity design and researcher involvement.
• Seek synergies with the Science Comes To Town initiative where appropriate.
• Applicants are encouraged to leverage additional funding sources and cover both 2026 and 2027 activities.
• Organise two successive editions of ERN (2026 and 2027), each on the last Friday of September, with events lasting up to two days (including pre- and post-events).
• Implement RAS activities at any time during the project, ensuring direct interaction on societal challenges and EU research priorities.
• Target the general public, with special focus on young people, families, pupils, students, and those with limited access to STEAM fields.
• Ensure wide geographic coverage (regional, national and cross-border partnerships) to avoid overlaps and reflect European scope.
• Promote the ERN and RAS initiatives as Europe-wide events highlighting the EU, EU-funded research, Open Science and Responsible Research & Innovation.
• Involve researchers funded by Horizon Europe or previous Framework Programmes (especially MSCA).
• Advance gender balance, diversity and inclusiveness in science through activity design and researcher involvement.
• Seek synergies with the Science Comes To Town initiative where appropriate.
• Applicants are encouraged to leverage additional funding sources and cover both 2026 and 2027 activities.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Lump sum funding model applies, in line with the Decision of 11 March 2021 authorising lump sum contributions for MSCA under Horizon Europe.
• Maximum EU contribution per proposal: EUR 350,000 (exceeding this may incur evaluation penalties unless strongly justified).
• Activities in non-associated third countries are ineligible for funding; eligible countries per Horizon Europe General Annexes.
• Grants will be awarded to ensure at least one highest-ranked application per eligible country (including trans-national consortia) subject to thresholds.
• High-quality applications not funded may be granted status of associated events.
• Budget evaluation under criterion 3: “Quality and efficiency of the implementation.”
• Single-stage submission; opening 17 June 2025, deadline 22 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Indicative number of grants: 50; individual contributions between EUR 100,000 and EUR 350,000.
• Admissibility, eligibility, exclusion, award criteria and evaluation procedures per Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Online Manual.
• Maximum EU contribution per proposal: EUR 350,000 (exceeding this may incur evaluation penalties unless strongly justified).
• Activities in non-associated third countries are ineligible for funding; eligible countries per Horizon Europe General Annexes.
• Grants will be awarded to ensure at least one highest-ranked application per eligible country (including trans-national consortia) subject to thresholds.
• High-quality applications not funded may be granted status of associated events.
• Budget evaluation under criterion 3: “Quality and efficiency of the implementation.”
• Single-stage submission; opening 17 June 2025, deadline 22 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Indicative number of grants: 50; individual contributions between EUR 100,000 and EUR 350,000.
• Admissibility, eligibility, exclusion, award criteria and evaluation procedures per Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Online Manual.
Important dates
Open from: 17/06/2025
Deadline:22/10/2025
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