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HORIZON EUROPE TOPIC · Widening participation and strengthening the ERA

Pillar III: Science comes to town 2029

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-03 — the expected outcomes as checkable statements, what evaluators look for in this topic, and the conditions that shape the proposal.

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ForthcomingCSADeadline 11 March 2027around EUR 6 million per project

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TopicHORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-03
StatusForthcoming
CallHORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05 — Enhancing the European R&I system
DestinationReforming and enhancing the EU research and innovation system (2026-27)
Type of actionCoordination and Support Actions
Opening8 December 2026
Deadline11 March 2027
Budgetaround EUR 6 million per project · 1 project expected · EUR 6 million in total
Part B page limit25 pages (standard application form; check your call)
TemplateWork Programme 2026–2027 application form

Expected outcomes

Projects should contribute to all of the expected outcomes. The topic says: “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:”

  1. EO1 Strengthened capacity, networks and involvement of the participating cities in science communication and citizen engagement in science.
  2. EO2 More informed, evidence-based policymaking and increased public engagement through inclusive and participatory discussions and debates on science and R&I policy.
  3. EO3 Improved attractiveness of diverse careers in R&I for younger generations.

Expected impacts named in the destination

The wider, long-term effects the destination seeks. Your outcomes feed them; they are not project deliverables.

  1. EI1 Effective and sustainable structural institutional changes aligned with the ERA priorities.
  2. EI2 Sustainable ecosystems established around the ERA priorities through enhanced cooperation, coordination and alignment.
  3. EI3 Increased trust in science and alignment of R&I with society’s needs.
  4. EI4 Strengthened evidence base for advancing the implementation of the ERA.
  5. EI5 Increased reproducibility, trustworthiness and transparency of scientific research.
  6. EI6 A more open, equitable and inclusive research and innovation ecosystem.
  7. EI7 A research ethics and integrity ecosystem continually enhanced with robust methodologies that encourage benefit sharing and prevent ethics dumping.
  8. EI8 Systemic reform of research assessment through the recognition of the diverse outputs, practices, and activities which maximise the quality and impact of research.
  9. EI9 Improved research careers and mobility, based on the European framework for research careers, fostering knowledge flows and career interoperability across sectors and countries.
  10. EI10 Stronger translation of R&I results into society and economy.
  11. EI11 Enhanced gender equality and inclusiveness, leading to research excellence and more innovative, socially relevant, and economically impactful outcomes.
  12. EI12 Increased uptake, effectiveness and impact of environmentally sustainable research.

What evaluators will look for in this topic

Expected outcomes

  • Projects should contribute to all of the expected outcomes.
  • For each outcome (EO1 to EO3), name who will use or adopt your results (a specific group, not “industry” or “society”), how they get them, and the indicator that shows the change, with baseline, target and date.
  • Use the topic's own words for each outcome, so the evaluator can tick it off.

What the scope asks for

Evaluators check the proposal against these sentences of the scope. Answer each one visibly, in the call's own words.

  • “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:.”
  • “Applicants are encouraged to establish synergies with the European Researchers’ Night and the Researchers at School initiative, funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.”
  • “Programmed activities should create a link with the preceding 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.”
  • “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.”

Conditions that shape the proposal

  • Part B, sections 1–3: 25 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
  • Coordination and support action: no research is funded. Evaluators look for coordination, networking, dissemination or policy support with a clear audience.
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “The participating city that the proposal designates as host for EUCYS 2029 must provide as part of the proposal the commitment from its respective National EUCYS Organiser to run the 2029 competition as part of the project (EUCYS National Organiser must either participate as a beneficiary or associated partner, or…”
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “Applications must 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; and two of which are established in a Member State.”
  • Legal and financial set-up of the grants: “Subcontracting is not restricted to a limited part of the action.”
  • Legal and financial set-up of the grants: “Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The financial support to third parties can only be provided in the form of prizes. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000.”

Impact pathway and traps

  • Users or citizens are part of the scope. Show how they take part in the design and testing, not only that they are informed.
  • The scope expects pilots or demonstration. Name the sites, the partners who run them and what is measured there.
  • The topic expects cooperation with other projects or initiatives. Reserve effort and budget for it in the work plan.
  • The gender dimension is named in the topic. Show how sex and gender analysis enters the research content, not only team balance.
  • Keep outputs, outcomes and impacts apart: what you deliver, what changes when others use it, and the long-term effect.
  • For each destination impact you claim, show which of your outcomes feeds it. Destination impacts are long-term effects, not project deliverables.
  • Name the barriers outside the project (regulation, markets, user behaviour) that could block uptake, and what you will do if they do.
  • Section 2.3 (the summary canvas) is optional on this call; the old split into scientific, economic and societal impact is no longer required.
The scope, as published

This topic supports a small group of cities in organising and hosting a joint 1-year programme “Science comes to town 2029”. 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 2029 editions of EUCYS and EU TalentOn will take place in the third quarter of 2029, customarily in September. Applicants are encouraged to establish synergies with the European Researchers’ Night and the Researchers at School initiative, funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Programmed activities should create a link with the preceding 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. 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. https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/msca-citizens. See “Science comes to town 2028” in WIDERA work programme 2026-2027.

Other topics in HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05

Source and attribution

Topic text from the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, retrieved 19 October 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU (CC BY 4.0). Changes: the expected outcomes and impacts are split into numbered statements, long passages are shortened, and the evaluator checklist is GrantWise's own commentary. Your call and the Work Programme always win; check them before you submit. GrantWise is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the European Commission.