MSCA and Citizens 2027

Overview

Funding for organizations to engage citizens, particularly young people, in science and research through two key initiatives: the annual European Researchers’ Night and the Researchers at Schools program. Targets entities aiming to improve public understanding of research, promote STEAM fields, and foster inclusivity in science.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include legal entities (e.g., universities, research institutions, public bodies, non-profits, and private organizations) established in EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, or other eligible third countries. Consortia are encouraged, particularly for cross-border or regional coordination.

Funding Details

• Maximum EU contribution: €350,000 per proposal (lump sum).
• Co-funding: Additional sources of funding are encouraged but not mandatory.
• Budget evaluation: Assessed under the "Quality and efficiency of the implementation" criterion.

What Is Funded

• European Researchers’ Night: Annual public events (last Friday of September, extendable to two days) combining education and entertainment (e.g., exhibitions, experiments, debates, competitions). Pre- and post-events are permitted.
• Researchers at Schools: Activities bringing researchers to schools or pupils to research facilities (e.g., presentations, citizen science, visits). Must include dedicated promotion to educational institutions.
• Cross-cutting priorities: Gender balance, diversity, inclusivity, and EU visibility in all activities. Synergies with the "Science Comes To Town" initiative are encouraged.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Projects must demonstrate activities at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4–6, focusing on applied research and public engagement rather than basic research or commercialization.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2027-03-08
• Deadline: 2027-06-07T22:00:00Z

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage submission via the [Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal).
• Evaluation: Proposals ranked by merit, with additional consideration for geographic balance (at least one highest-ranked proposal per eligible country).

Post-Award Obligations

• Reporting: Standard Horizon Europe lump-sum reporting requirements apply.
• Dissemination: Mandatory promotion of EU funding and project outcomes, including visibility of the European Researchers’ Night as a pan-European event.
• Associated events: High-quality unfunded proposals may receive "associated event" status.

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland.
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Non-eligible costs: Activities in non-associated third countries.
• Penalties: Proposals exceeding the €350,000 limit may be penalized unless justified.
• Multi-year proposals: Encouraged to cover both 2028 and 2029 editions of the European Researchers’ Night.
• Researcher involvement: Participation of Horizon Europe-funded researchers (especially MSCA fellows) is highly encouraged.