Project description
Bringing science closer to everyone
Connecting researchers with the public is key to building trust in science, inspiring future generations, and showing how research helps address the challenges of everyday life. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ForskarFredag 2026-2027 will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sweden’s nationwide science festival by bringing researchers and the public together through interactive events in 28 cities. With debates, experiments, science cafés, and school activities reaching tens of thousands of young people, the project will make science accessible and engaging for audiences of all ages. Working with partners across Sweden and other European Researchers’ Night initiatives, ForskarFredag will strengthen public engagement with research while fostering dialogue between scientists and society.
Objective
ForskarFredag (Researchers’ Friday) is Sweden’s most widely dispersed science festival, coordinated by the non-profit association VA (Public & Science). ForskarFredag 2026 and 2027 (FF2026_27) will feature inspiring and interactive events in 28 cities across Sweden, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026.
The festival invites the public to meet researchers and experience science through debates, shows, science cafés, experiments, and hands-on activities designed to spark dialogue and demonstrate the relevance of research in everyday life. A strong European dimension will be ensured through collaboration with nine other European Researchers’ Night (ERN) projects and a set of joint European activities.
Young people aged 6–19 are a key target group. A school programme will offer numerous opportunities for encounters with researchers. ‘Researchers at Schools’ activities will include the established “Borrow a Researcher” concept, through which 15,000 pupils across Sweden will meet a researcher in school or virtually, and a new “Researcher Returns Home” initiative reaching an additional 7,000 pupils in rural areas through in-person visits.
Local events will be organised by 9 Partners and 21 External Partners, each building on local strengths and networks to ensure the highest possible impact. Together, event organisers form a national network sharing experience and good practice. VA, which has coordinated ForskarFredag annually since 2006, is responsible for coordination, quality assurance, national identity, awareness campaigns, and impact assessment.
FF2026_27 builds on previous years, drawing on experience, partnerships, and an ever-increasing national profile. Overall, the ForskarFredag will engage around 61,500 participants and 1,200 researchers over two years.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-CITIZENS-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
114 46 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.