ScienceUs Open Call
Upscaling and interconnecting ongoing Citizen Science projects relevant to the EU mission “Adaptation to climate change”
*Image Credits: University of Tübingen
Open Call Submission - Closed
The ScienceUs Upscale Academy
The ScienceUs project is launching an open call to scale up and connect outstanding Citizen Science projects in different research and technological areas relevant to the EU mission “Adaptation to climate change”.
ScienceUs proposes a three-phase support program (Seed – Flourish – Harvest phases) with direct funding and support services to a group of outstanding Citizen Science initiatives that have the potential to be upscaled to other EU regions.
Throughout these phases, ScienceUs will assist the citizen science projects by:
1) Defining a transnational citizen science campaign and upscaling plan,
2) Implementing the transnational campaign plan by facilitating the matchmaking between EU citizen science initiatives and the involvement of quadruple helix actors in the projects,
3) Facilitating that these supported Citizen Science projects transfer the best practices and lessons learned to other initiatives and projects and quadruple helix actors (mainly policymakers), generating a knowledge spillover effect.
This Open Call will select 25 projects to participate in the program’s first phase (Seed phase). Subsequently, five projects will be selected from the initial 25 to progress to the subsequent two phases of the programme (Flourish and Harvest phases).
All ongoing citizen science initiatives related to climate change adaptation run by an EU legal entity are eligible to apply.
You can find the application form here
Key Dates and Figures
| Opening date |
| 1st November, 2024 |
| Deadlines |
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* Only projects participating in the SEED PHASE can apply for progression to the FLOURISH PHASE.
** Only projects participating in the FLOURISH PHASE can apply for progression to the HARVEST PHASE.
Expected duration of participation |
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Total available funding |
• Seed phase: €1,000 per project (25 CS projects) |
• Flourish phase: €25,000 per project (5 CS projects*) |
• Harvest phase: €14,000 per project (5 CS projects*) |
Total: €220,000 euro |
*Projects that have participated in previous phases
Context of the Call
Addressing the global challenge of climate change is one of the most urgent priorities of our time. The far-reaching impacts of rising temperatures, increased carbon emissions, and environmental degradation are already manifesting in more frequent extreme weather events, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. As these challenges intensify, both natural and human systems need to adapt effectively.
This Open Call recognizes the pivotal role that citizen science plays in tackling the effects of climate change. This approach enhances scientific knowledge and ensures that the voices and experiences of those most affected by climate change are included in the search for practical, on-the-ground solutions.
By strengthening the connection between outstanding local and national level Citizen Science projects across Europe, the ScienceUs project contributes to the transition toward a climate-resilient and sustainable future.
In the Open Call, climate change adaptation represents the ability of natural and human systems to respond to climate change’s effects, including climate variability, extreme weather events, sea rise level, and food insecurity, to reduce potential damage, take advantage of opportunities, and/or cope with its consequences.
⦁ economy (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry, tourism, trade, transport);
⦁ nature conservation and protection; green and blue infrastructure, also considering its innovative components as nature-based solutions;
⦁ built-up infrastructure (including residential and non-residential buildings, transport);
⦁ public services (e.g., water supply, sanitation, sewage, heating) and other infrastructure (e.g., emergency, health, education);
⦁ natural and human risk prevention and management;
⦁ energy management;
⦁ water management;
⦁ transport management;
⦁ health system;
⦁ environmental education;
⦁ environmental government and governance;
⦁ outdoor and indoor climate monitoring
Who can apply?
Submission process
Applications will be made in English, online via the following platform: https://scienceus-project.eu/application-form/
Applications for the first phase (SEED) will consist of a proposal including a description of the applicant’s ongoing citizen science project, with details about quality and relevance of existing results for climate change adaptation, demand for the project in other regions, potential for scalability and replicability, applicant’s resources and expected impact on European, national, regional, or local policies. The short proposal should follow the template available in the ScienceUs ‘guide for applicants’.
The 25 projects participating in the Seed Phase will be candidates for the next two phases of the program. Their progression to the second (FLOURISH) and the third (HARVEST) phase will depend on a positive evaluation of the deliverables they have to submit by the deadlines listed above.
Evaluation process
The funding is available for ongoing citizen science projects relevant to the EU mission “Adaptation to climate change”. All legal entities established in the EU Member States and countries associated with the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation are eligible to apply.
Every entity is allowed to participate in one application, either on its own or as part of a consortium (please check all eligibility criteria in the ScienceUs ‘guide for applicants’).
The application must be submitted by a designated point of contact authorised to do so on behalf of the organisation they are affiliated with.
- For the first phase (SEED), each proposal will be assessed against five criteria: (1) quality and relevance of existing results for climate change adaptation, (2) demand for the project in other regions, (3) potential for scalability and replicability, (4) applicant’s resources and (5) expected impact on European, national, regional, or local policies.
- For the second phase (FLOURISH), the projects selected in the first stage will be evaluated based on the deliverable D1 «CS transnational campaign and upscaling plan», considering the following criteria: (1) deliverable quality, (2) deadline compliance, and (3) short pitch of the upscaling strategy in the context of an online event.
- For the third phase (HARVEST), the projects selected in the second stage will be evaluated considering D2 “Concrete list of projects to cooperate with and implementation plan of joint activities”, D3 “Citizen Science campaigns implemented” and D4 “Policy assessment and recommendations” considering criteria: (1) the results in scaling up to generate networks and communities with other initiatives in Europe’s regions, (2) the impact on solving key strategic topics, (3) the feasibility, (4) the engagement of all actors from the quadruple helix (university-industry-government-public), (5) the results by proposed data management plan, and (6) other issues such as their plan for inclusion, gender balance, equity, and diversity.
Challenges
Projects applying for the ScienceUs Open Call should address at least one of the following challenges.
- Topic 1.1 – Increasing Reach and Engagement
- Topic 1.2 – Addressing Resource Constraints for Long-term Campaigns
- Topic 1.3 – Overcoming the Perception of Climate Change as a Distant Threat
- Topic 1.4 – Fighting Misinformation and Fake News
- Topic 2.1 – Building Trust in Science and Science Institutions
- Topic 2.2 – Increasing Institutional Capacity and Interest
- Topic 2.3 – Closing Coordination and Communication Gaps
- Topic 2.4 – Creating Incentives for Citizen Participation
- Topic 2.5 – Addressing Institutional and Policy Barriers
- Topic 3.1 – Closing Technology Gaps
- Topic 3.2 – Overcoming Language and Communication Barriers
- Topic 3.3 – Increasing Diversity in Leadership Roles
- Topic 3.4 – Overcoming perceived lack of relevance
FAQs
- SEED phase – 25 projects
- FLOURISH phase – 5 projects
- HARVEST phase – 5 projects
To receive updated information about the supporting events, please contact opencall@scienceus-project.eu.
All legal entities with an ongoing project relevant to climate change adaptation, as defined in the Guidelines.
The following partners that are part of the ScienceUs consortium are not eligible: Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Aix-Marseille Universite, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of Bucharest, Universite Libre de Brussels, Sapienza Universita di Roma, Eberhard Karls Universität Tubingen, Museum fur Naturkunde Berlin.
Considering the relevant challenges for climate change adaptation identified at the European level and the challenges considered a priority in the open call.
- You can upscale your Citizen Science project to the European level and transform a local idea into a European one, making you a fundamental contributor to climate change adaptation efforts.
- You can benefit from the training and mentoring provided by the ScienceUs Upscale Academy and from peer-learning opportunities with other participating projects to develop ideas and obtain additional support for your Citizen Science project.
- You can enhance your Citizen Science project through networking and matchmaking with quadruple helix stakeholders, along with gaining increased visibility on the ScienceUs website and social media channels, which can help showcase your work and attract further support.
- You can participate in dedicated events related to citizen science.
Each applicant may submit multiple applications, independently or as part of a consortium, but only one application per institution can be funded.
No. Immediate family, partners, and members of staff of ScienceUS consortium members (including subcontractors) are prohibited from applying.
No, only ongoing Citizen Science projects that have already produced documented outcomes can apply to the ScienceUs open call.
An ongoing Citizen Science project is a project that has at least one year of experience in implementation and clear and transparent outcomes at the local or national level, available online when the application form is submitted to ScienceUs.
Climate change adaptation projects refer to all projects that could directly contribute to enhancing policy, actions, or monitoring related to climate change adaptation through new data, new perspectives, and/or changing behaviour.
Citizen Science is a model in which society—represented by actors usually outside the traditional scientific community—becomes involved in the scientific development process on an equal footing.
Citizen science encompasses activities that involve citizens in a scientific endeavour that generates new knowledge or understanding. In citizen science projects, citizens may act as contributors, collaborators, co-creators or coordinators. Projects in which citizens only have a peripheral or passive role (e.g. participating in a survey) are not eligible to apply.
No. You only have to submit a proposal for the first phase (SEED phase). The deliverable submitted at the end of Seed phase (D1) will constitute the application for the second phase. Similarly, if you are selected for the second phase (FLOURISH phase), the deliverable submitted (D2 and D3) will constitute the proposal for phase 3 (HARVEST phase).
The project is structured in three cascading phases. Of the 25 participants in the first phase (SEED), five will be selected for the second phase (FLOURISH), and only these five will have the opportunity to progress to the third phase (HARVEST).
For the SEED PHASE we will select the most promising 25 ongoing citizen science initiatives related to climate change adaptation run by an EU legal entity. The selected initiatives will participate in a two-day boot camp in Berlin and submit a mandatory deliverable – the «CS transnational campaign and upscaling plan».
During this phase, the five selected citizen science projects will cooperate with other initiatives and stakeholders from different EU regions to exchange best practices, share data, and draw conclusions from this aggregated data as per their campaign plan handed on in the SEED phase. There are two mandatory deliverables – D2, «Concrete list of projects to cooperate with and implementation plan of joint activities» (at the beginning of the phase), and D3, «Citizen Science campaigns implemented» (at the end of the phase).
➢During this phase, the five selected projects will work with policymakers, public authorities, industry, and academia to transform the conclusions from their CS projects into real policy impacts under the new ERA framework and Horizon Europe missions. The mandatory deliverable is D4, «Policy assessment and recommendations».
A project that passes through all three phases can obtain a maximum of €40.000 in funding.
Each of the 25 selected projects will be awarded up to €1,000/project to participate in a two-day boot camp in Berlin.
€25.000/ CS project, a lump sum based on the approval of deliverables, the level of crucial project indicators achieved, and attendance at mandatory events.
€14.000/ CS project. After the final deliverable is approved, a final payment of €14.000/project (lump sum scheme) will be released.
- SEED phase – participation in person in a two-day boot camp in Berlin (minimum one representative per selected project); drafting and submission of a mandatory deliverable.
- FLOURISH phase – online and in-person participation in workshops, events, and mentoring sessions organized by ScienceUs; implementation of the citizen science project; drafting and submission of mandatory deliverables.
- HARVEST phase – online and in-person participation in workshops, events, and mentoring sessions organized by ScienceUs; implementation of the citizen science project; drafting and submission of mandatory deliverables.
According to the Horizon Europe guidelines, the funding can be spent on salaries, equipment, consumables, travel, subcontracting to other entities, and indirect expenditures (calculated as 25% of the total direct costs).
As long as the project deals with climate adaptation, it is eligible.
Partners from the project team mentioned in the official presentation are not eligible, even if they apply from another institution.
If you are not a member of the existing project team and apply from another eligible institution, that is possible.
This is the only call under the current project framework. No future calls are foreseen.
Yes, an organization may submit multiple applications. However, only one project per institution will ultimately be funded.
Follow the structure of the application form.
The current initiative seeks projects that can be scaled up; explain potential scalability.
Show current results and then detail how you intend to scale or improve the project in the future.
Follow the structure of the application form.
The current initiative seeks projects that can be scaled up; explain potential scalability.
Show current results and then detail how you intend to scale or improve the project in the future.
Online translation tools can be used. English availability would ease scalability, but the immediate requirement is that results be accessible online.
As long as there are results available online in some form, it is considered eligible.
The funding under this call is capped at €40,000 per project. Any additional scaling beyond that budget would need to be funded through other means.
Yes, the proposal must be written in English.
*Image Credits: University of Tübingen
**Data Protection & Ethical Compliance Notice
By submitting your proposal to the application form, you consent to the collection and processing of the personal data provided for the purposes of evaluating your submission and facilitating the application process. Your data will be managed in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws. For full details on how we handle your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy page.
In line with ethical standards, applicants are required to acknowledge their understanding of our data protection and ethical guidelines. By submitting the application form, you will confirm your compliance with these standards, ensuring the integrity and responsible handling of all shared information.