Horizon MSCA: Host Researchers’ Night & Researchers at Schools

The HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01-01 call invites organisations to coordinate two consecutive editions (2026 and 2027) of the European Researchers’ Night together with Researchers at Schools programmes. As part of Horizon Europe’s MSCA and Citizens action, the initiative strengthens dialogue between science and society by pairing high-visibility public events with classroom-level engagement. The call opens on 17 June and closes on 22 October, and successful projects are expected to begin in early 2026. For authoritative scope, timelines, and submission requirements, consult the official EU Funding & Tenders topic page.

Apply now for HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01-01 to host the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools initiatives in 2026–2027. This EU coordination and support action boosts public engagement with research through hands-on science events and school outreach. Get started and empower tomorrow’s researchers today.

Objectives and Scope

Bringing Research Closer to Citizens

This action prioritises broad, inclusive outreach so that citizens can encounter research as a lived experience. Consequently, it promotes hands-on European Researchers’ Night festivals that animate entire cities and regions, while Researchers at Schools embeds active researchers in classrooms to translate complex ideas into accessible demonstrations. In practice, participating teams curate interactive exhibits, run science challenges, and facilitate dialogue on how research addresses social, economic, and environmental priorities.

Core Outcomes

To be competitive, proposals should demonstrate measurable outcomes

that persist beyond the event days:

- Increase public awareness of the value and impact of EU-funded research.
- Spark sustained interest in STEM studies and research careers among school-age audiences.
- Show how research responds to policy challenges, from climate resilience to health.
- Enhance organisational visibility and the local innovation ecosystem through strategic partnerships.

Additionally, strong projects evidence inclusivity—balancing urban and rural audiences, addressing under-represented groups, and tailoring activities to different learning styles.

Key Dates and Budget Details

Submission Milestones and Planning Windows

Milestone	Timeline
Call Opens	17 June 2025
Submission Deadline	22 October 2025
Evaluation Notification	Early 2026 (TBC)
Grant Agreement Finalisation	Spring 2026 (TBC)
Project Start	Spring 2026 (TBC)

Funding Envelope and Typical Grant Size

The call’s total indicative budget is approximately €16 million, with grants typically ranging from €100,000 to €300,000 per project. Since this is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), funding focuses on outreach design, delivery, communication, evaluation, and

coordination rather than research tasks. Therefore, budget narratives should emphasise audience reach, accessibility, sustainability practices (e.g., low-waste events), and rigorous impact assessment.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible Organisations

Single entities or consortia based in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible to apply. Suitably positioned participants include:

- Universities, research centres, and academies
- Museums, science centres, and cultural institutions
- Schools and education authorities
- Public authorities, foundations, media organisations, and civic bodies

Applicants are expected to demonstrate operational capacity for large-scale engagement and compliance with the EU’s ethical and communication standards.

Encouraged Partnerships

Consortia that bridge regional, national, or cross-border audiences are strongly encouraged. Thus, partnerships that combine complementary strengths—such as event production, science communication, teacher training, accessibility expertise, and monitoring & evaluation—typically score well. Wherever possible, align consortia with existing festival networks, municipal outreach programmes, or regional innovation clusters to extend visibility and logistical reach.

How to Apply Successfully

Step 1: Review the Guide

Begin with the Horizon Europe Work Programme annexes and the Guide for Applicants. In particular, map your plan to the evaluation criteria: Excellence (concept and methodology), Impact (communication and engagement outcomes), and Quality & Efficiency of Implementation (team, work plan, risks, budget).

Step 2: Build a Strong Consortium

justify;">Select partners using a capability matrix. Identify who will lead programme curation, school liaison, communications, media relations, accessibility, volunteer management, and data collection. Additionally, prepare letters of support from city authorities, educator networks, and venue partners to evidence feasibility.

Step 3: Design Engaging Activities

Propose a portfolio that blends edutainment and co-creation. For example, schedule interactive demos, maker-spaces, and citizen-science challenges, then pair them with classroom visits, teacher packs, and researcher mentoring. Crucially, define audience journeys (pre-event teasers, event activities, post-event follow-ups) so engagement continues beyond the festival night.

Step 4: Align with EU Missions

Integrate themes connected to EU Missions and policy priorities—climate adaptation, soil health, cancer, oceans, and sustainable cities. Moreover, connect activities to local challenges (air quality, biodiversity corridors, urban heat) so participants can see how research translates into solutions in their neighbourhoods.

Step 5: Apply Through the Portal

Register your organisation on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, complete all administrative forms (including PIC validation where applicable), upload the technical proposal and budget, and submit by 22 October. Before finalising, validate the proposal to flag missing fields, ensure page-limit compliance, and verify that mandatory annexes are attached.

Why This Call Matters

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Visibility and Impact: Hosting European Researchers’ Night raises the profile of institutions, researchers, and local innovation. Moreover, it signals commitment to public engagement and responsible research and innovation.
STEM Pipeline Building: Early exposure to real researchers often influences study choices. By creating enquiry-driven experiences, teams nurture curiosity and guide students toward STEM pathways.
Institutional Growth: Well-delivered editions create reusable assets—content libraries, school partnerships, volunteer networks, and media relationships—that power future bids across Horizon Europe and beyond.

Review and Refresh Recommendations

Ongoing Readiness and Governance

- Weekly Monitoring: Track Q&As, clarifications, and webinar slides. Assign one partner to compile updates for the consortium.
- Mock Evaluations: Run internal reviews against scoring rubrics; verify that KPIs, risk mitigations, and data-protection plans are specific and auditable.
- After-Action Reports: Document lessons from previous outreach, including participation figures, accessibility improvements, and carbon-light logistics. Then, convert insights into work-package upgrades.

Summary

The HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01-01 call provides a structured opportunity to elevate science engagement through two consecutive editions of European Researchers’ Night and sustained Researchers at Schools activities. With clear dates, defined outcomes, and a meaningful funding envelope, the action supports teams that blend creative programming with robust evaluation and inclusive access. By assembling complementary partners, aligning content with EU Missions, and submitting a well-tested proposal, applicants can deliver events that leave durable educational and societal value.

For definitive guidance and the submission interface, consult the official MSCA & Citizens information pages and the topic entry on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Quick Summary Table

Feature	Details
Program Name	HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01-01 (MSCA and Citizens)
Host Countries	EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries
Funded By	European Commission – Horizon Europe, MSCA
Duration	Two editions — 2026 and 2027
Study Mode	Coordination and Support Action (CSA), public science engagement events
Eligibility	Organisations or consortia established in eligible countries
Financial Support	Lump sums between €100,000 and €300,000 per project
Fields of Impact	Public engagement, STEM education, research communication
Deadline	October 2025 (Call opens June 2025)
Next Cycle (Projected)	Likely mid-2027 — we will update soon
Official Website	EU Funding & Tenders Portal