European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2023

Project Information

EUCYS2023

Grant agreement ID: 101123904

DOI

10.3030/101123904

Project closed

EC signature date 1 June 2023

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 December 2023

Funded under

• Reforming and enhancing the European R&I System

Total cost

€ 1 043 750,00

EU contribution

€ 1 000 000,00

Coordinated by

JEUNESSES SCIENTIFIQUES DE BELGIQUE
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EUCYS2023 (European Union Contest for Young Scientists 2023)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The main objective of this project is the organisation of the 34th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) 2023 by the Jeunesses Scientifiques de Belgique (JSB – Young Belgian Scientists) from September 12 to 17 in Brussels, Belgium.

EUCYS focused on supporting excellent young European Scientists and stir their election to move towards careers in science and technology while using them at promoting their scientific results towards the general public, especially media, political representatives, students and teachers.

EUCYS is a unique opportunity to offer visibility of science and technology oriented young talents towards the potential industries where they could potentially develop their abilities, stimulating new innovative initiatives and enhancing entrepreneurship and creativity among young European scientists.

The EUCYS participants have the opportunity to develop their network meeting with peers from all over Europe, as well to meet and interact with European renowned scientists.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In order to organise EUCYS, the work plan consisted of seven distinct work packages.:

The work package 1: “Management of the project & HR” included all aspects concerning the management of the project, the relation with the European Commission, and the points related to the team (recruitment, coordination, etc.);

The work package 2: “Participants & Jury” included all aspects concerning the registration and coordination of the participants, their escorts and the jury members as well as the selection process;

The work package 3: “Organisation of the contest” included all aspects concerning the technical aspects of the event including the venues selection, the set up, the services such as catering, local and international transports and accommodation;

The work package 4: “Scientific, social & cultural programme” included all aspects related to the organisation of the programme and all activities including the opening and awards ceremonies, the social activities such as the ice breaking time and the cultural activities such as the visit of Brussels and the Belgian dinner;

The work package 5: “Communication, Press & Media” included all aspects related to the plan of communication and its application together with the management of the social network and the relation with the press;

The work package 6: “Partnerships and VIPS” included all aspects related to action with partners and the VIPs to support and join the event;

The work package 7: “Ethics requirements” ensured the compliance with the ethics requirements with a specific attention at respecting the GDPR principles..

The overall project had a total duration of 16 months from September 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

First, providing stimulus in the shape of events and the competitions for young students and next stage and early career researchers to engage with science is useful to support national efforts to attract young people to study STEAM. Studies have highlighted to positive impact of project based education at a personal level by developing soft and hard skills conducting a complete process from the identification of an idea to its presentation following a scientific methodology.

Second, EUCYS fosters knowledge-transfer, cooperation and exchanges among young European scientists. Giving young students and researchers the opportunity to network and get inspired by other young scientists with similar interests, as well as established scientists with broad knowledge on the topic(s) of interests, young scientists obtain new insights, ideas and networks that foster their projects or careers in the future.

Third, the impact not only reaches participants of EUCYS but the general public is also a main target group. With a detailed communication and dissemination strategy, science and technology was presented as an appealing career option for future students and researchers. EUCYS generates awareness of the importance of scientific and technological innovation in society. Therefore, the programme will contribute to raising interest of young students in science and raising public understanding of science and technology, which are the long-term goals of the European Research Area.

To ensure a smooth continuity of the event, several preparation meetings were undertaken with the European Commission, the EUCYS 2022 host and our Belgian team. Furthermore, the EUCYS 2024 host was reached and sessions were organised giving a particular attention to transfer the knowledge and outcome of the event.