19 - 21 Jan 2026



Grand Opening of Science Comes to Town in Split

The European launch of Science Comes to Town, a new Horizon Europe flagship initiative, will take place in Split from 19–21 January 2026. Together with the cities of Kiel, Brest, and Split, and more than 70 partner institutions, this year-long programme brings science and innovation closer to communities across Europe. The Grand Opening in Split marks the official start of the initiative and invites citizens, researchers, educators, students, policy makers, and all friends of science to join the celebration.

Welcome Dinner - 19 January (by direct invitation only)

This exclusive gathering will bring together distinguished representatives from European institutions, government, academia, culture, business, and innovation ecosystems.

Official Opening Ceremony – 20 January (registration required)

8:30-9:00  | Hrvatski dom, Split

Registration at the Ivo Tijardovic Hall (Main Hall)

9:00–13:00 | Hrvatski dom, Split

9:00-10:00 Welcome speeches & Project Introduction

The Opening Ceremony will introduce the vision and goals of Science Comes to Town through a series of high-level speeches and presentations. Guests will hear from representatives of the three SCTT cities, national institutions, and the European Union. Real-time AI-enabled multilingual translation will be available for all attendees.

10:00-11:00 Panel discussion

A central part of the morning programme is the panel discussion “Cities at the Centre of Science and Society”, moderated by Andreas Kosmider, Managing Director of the Falling Walls Foundation, exploring how European cities can strengthen their role in science engagement and innovation.

Panelist:

  • Goran Batinić, CEO at RaST Development Agency and Technology Park Split; 
  • Claire Hellio, University of Western Brittany - Vice-President for Europe and International Affairs; 
  • Meta Knol, Organiser European City of Science Leiden;
  • Ana Marušić, Professor of Anatomy and Chair of the Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health at the University of Split School of Medicine; 
  • Jörg Niehoff, Deputy Head of Unit, ERA Governance and Implementation at the DG for Research and Innovation of the European Commission

11:00-11:20 Coffee break

11:20-12:20 Two parallel sessions

A: Panel discussion

The panel discussion will explore the topic "The Cultural Economy: Bridging Science and Society", moderated by Maryline Fiaschi, CEO of Science|Business.

Panelist:

  • Ante Mandić, associate professor Economy-Tourism; 
  • Sharon Memis, Secretary General, IFLA – International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions; 
  • Dragana Lucija Ratković Aydemir, Founder & Director, Muze (heritage management & cultural tourism); 
  • Xavier Rodier, Coordinator, ECHOES (European Cloud for Heritage OpEn Science) project;
  • Emilie Vandam, Policy Officer for 'New European Bauhaus' at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

B: Workshop

The workshop “Science4Future, Future4Science: Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists” will be moderated by Boris Jokić, Director of the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb. (Note: The Science4Future session has limited seating and requires separate registration here.)

Speakers: 

  • Natalia Burlaga, winner of the European hackathon Championship who went on to fund a start-up
  • Anneke Kastelein, 1st prize winners at EU TalentOn 2024 (Katowice)
  • Maria Mecenero, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Research and Innovation
  • Aleksandra Petkova, 1st prize winner of EUCYS in 2024
  • Janoš Terzić, Prof. Ph.D. STEM / Medicine
  • Jessica Bönsch, national organiser of Germany for EUCYS

12:12-12:40 Closing remarks


12:45-16:00 | Diocletian's Cellars

12:45-16:00 Science Comes to Town Exhibition

13:30-15:00 Lunch

15:00-16:00 Guided Sightseeing


Interactive public Exhibition – 20 January (no registration required)

14:00–16:30 | Diocletian’s Cellars
Ongoing until Jan 24

All citizens and visitors are invited to join an afternoon exhibition featuring:

  • Initiatives from the SCTT cities of Brest, Kiel, and Split
  • SEA-EU Alliance projects
  • European Commission programmes
  • Croatian and European science-communication and education initiatives

The exhibition is designed as an interactive, hands-on experience and provides the first preview of the activities that will unfold throughout 2026.

In addition, a complementary exhibition, “Portraits of French Scientists,” will be on display at the Alliance française de Split until 29 January.

Working Meetings – 21 January

A series of coordination and planning meetings will bring together SCTT beneficiaries, the SEA-EU Rectors’ Council, and the SEA-EU Cities’ Council. These sessions support knowledge exchange and preparation for the year-long programme across Europe.


Join Us!

The official opening ceremony will be available for digital attendance via livestream (no registration required).


Translation:
The conference will use Wordly.ai for real-time translation and subtitles, available on mobile devices. Attendees can follow the text on their mobile screen or listen to the translation through their own headphones.

How to use Wordly:
1. Bring your own mobile device and headphones.
2. Scan the QR code.
3. Select the desired language.
4. Follow the subtitles or listen to the translation in real time.