Application phase opens for citizen projects
Co-creation means that people jointly develop and implement ideas. This principle is at the heart of the EU project Science Comes To Town: citizens, researchers, and experts work together as equals, take up questions from everyday life, and investigate them using scientific methods.
Starting in October 2025, the application phase for the co-creation projects begins. Citizens in the cities and regions of Kiel, Brest, and Split are invited to submit their own small research ideas. These should address a local challenge, spark curiosity, and be feasible in practice. Whether it concerns the environment and climate, health and quality of life, urban development, or cultural heritage: every idea counts, and every question can become a project.
Participation is simple: interested citizens describe their idea, formulate a clear research question, and indicate who will be involved and how the project will be carried out. In addition, they submit a rough budget plan and timeline.
Selected projects will receive prize money of up to €1,000 to implement their ideas. Teams will also be supported by experts and researchers and provided with a platform to present their results to a broad public. The selected projects will be implemented throughout 2026, allowing ideas to unfold directly in local communities.
The winners will be announced in January 2026 at the opening ceremony in Split.
Submit your ideas in Kiel
“With Science Comes To Town, science becomes tangible and directly relevant to people’s lives. I look forward to the creative ideas that will come from the community!” says Mayor Dr Ulf Kämpfer.
The application period runs from October 1 to November 30, 2025. All information as well as the application form for Kiel can be found at:
www.sctt-2026.de.
Submit your ideas in Split:
The invitation to participate in Co-creation - a project of joint creation with citizens, officially opens in Split on October 8. The application deadline is December 1, 2025.
Citizens, schools, associations and informal groups are invited to design and submit their projects that connect science with everyday lives and local challenges. No prior scientific knowledge is required, just a good idea and the will to change your town for the better! All Split residents can apply.
For more information, please visit our website:
https://sciencecomestotown.eu/call-applications
Submit your ideas in Brest:
Got a question for science? This call is for you!
Whether you are on your own, in a group, with your school, having scientific knowledge or not, all applications are welcome!
The call for Brest opens on October 13; the application deadline is December 15, 2025. For more information, please visit: www.brest.fr
About Science Comes To Town:
Science Comes To Town is a collaborative project financed by the European Union, led by the cities and regions of Kiel, Brest, and Split. The project brings together more than 70 associated partners and is based on three main goals: bridging the gap between science and public policy, encouraging scientific and research careers for younger generations, and fostering dialogue on science, research, and innovation between local authorities and citizens, as well as between research and business sectors.
In 2026, Kiel, Brest, and Split can look forward to a year full of science: the EU-funded international project Science Comes To Town will bring festivals, hands-on activities, workshops, and participatory formats to the cities and regions. Citizens can expect a diverse annual programme that sparks curiosity and enthusiasm for science.
All information will be available on the official Science Comes To Town website, as well as on local websites and social media platforms.
EU Funding
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Contact:
Project team of the City of Kiel and KielRegion
E-Mail: sctt@kielregion.de
Project team of Split:
scttsplit@gmail.com
Project team of Brest:
www.brest.fr