European Union Prize for Citizen Science

The Prize honors Citizen Science Initiatives in the European Research Area that enact change, expand knowledge, and demonstrate innovative Open Science processes that rethink existing practices while addressing social, cultural, environmental, educational, and political advancement.

The Prize invites submissions from a diverse range of initiatives that demonstrate outstanding examples of both citizens engaging with science and research, and scientists and researchers engaging with society. An initiative could consist of a project, a series of projects, an activity, or series of activities.

Scope

• The Prize is open to initiatives operating within a wide-ranging scope of scientific and social activities that engage citizens and aim to deliver scientific advancement and social benefits, support communities, and foster an open and inclusive civil society.
• The Prize is awarded annually by Ars Electronica on behalf of the European Commission. The Prize ceremony takes place at Ars Electronica Festival in September. No fees are charged to enter the competition. Each application has to refer to a project that, at the time of submission, is either completed or advanced enough as indicated by e.g. preliminary outcomes to allow the jury to assess its merit. Further on, the submitted initiatives/projects should not be older than two years or, if completed more than two years ago, must still show a significant update or further development through active work within the last two years.

Prize Categories

The European Union Prize for Citizen Science is awarded once a year and includes a Grand Prize, two Category Awards and 27 Honorary Mentions.

• European Union Prize for Citizen Science – Grand Prize
  • Prize Value: € 60.000
  • Awarded: 1 award each year (2023-2025)
  • Awarded for outstanding achievements in the advancement of knowledge through the empowerment of civil society and citizens in the development of the future.
• Diversity & Collaboration Award
  • Prize Value: € 20.000
  • Awarded: 1 award each year (2023-2025)
  • Awarded for excellence in grassroots approaches, explorative collaboration, cultural and gender diversity, community participation, stakeholder engagement and social inclusivity.
• Digital Communities Award
  • Prize Value: € 20.000
  • Awarded: 1 award each year (2023-2025)
  • Awarded for excellence in fostering an open and inclusive civil society fit for the digital age by empowering communities to critically engage with digital technologies.
• Honorary Mentions
  • Prize Value: € 0
  • Awarded: 27 Honorary Mentions each year (2023-2025)
  • The selection of Honorary Mentions is not shaped by thematic considerations, but will consist of outstanding initiatives from all fields and directions of Citizen Science. Beyond the quality assessment of applications, the selection of Honorary Mentions will also consider the geographical diversity as well as the diversity of contexts and research fields represented by the selected initiatives.

Eligible Initiatives

Examples of types of eligible initiatives include:

• (digital) humanities research engaging with citizens
• science engagement for and with citizens
• science and research communication with citizens as well as citizen engagement in science and research communication
• participatory and participatory artistic-led research
• science education that engages citizens
• and other outstanding initiatives in the field of citizen science e.g. in terms of activities and results, stakeholders involved, or policy impact

Initiatives that respond to the strategic orientations for research and innovation in the European Research Area are particularly encouraged to submit. This includes initiatives that demonstrate excellence in:

• promoting an open strategic autonomy by leading the development of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains to accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions through human-centred technologies and innovations;
• restoring Europe’s ecosystems and biodiversity, and managing sustainably natural resources to ensure food security and a clean and healthy environment;
• making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems;
• creating a more resilient, inclusive and democratic European society, prepared and responsive to threats and disasters, addressing inequalities and providing high-quality health care, and empowering all citizens to act in the green and digital transitions.

Eligibility Criteria

• The competition is open to Citizen Science Initiatives in the European Research Area. This includes the European Union and third countries in Europe that are associated to Horizon Europe or negotiating an association agreement with Horizon Europe.
• The competition is open to applications from natural persons (such as individual researchers, creatives, artists, and other professionals), groups of natural persons, legal entities (such as associations, research and higher education institutions, public bodies, NGOs, companies, and other legally established organizations), and groups of legal entities (such as research consortia).
• Community initiatives may be submitted only by an authorized representative. This may be an individual or an organization as specified.
• Initiatives must be at the time of submission either be ongoing, completed or far enough along in their design for the jury to be able to assess its quality and impact and the likelihood of it being successfully implemented. The same applies to collaborative arrangements – at the time they are submitted, they must already be up-and-running and in the implementation stage. No consideration will be given to entries that are purely concepts, ideas or proposals for collaboration. Entries must be no older than two years or, if completed more than two years ago, must still show a significant update or further development through active work within the last two years.
• Initiatives that have received funding from Horizon Europe or other European Union funding schemes are eligible to receive the European Union Prize for Citizen Science, but European funding is not a requirement for entry.
• Initiatives participating in the IMPETUS Accelerator Program are eligible to receive the European Union Prize for Citizen Science if they fulfil the eligibility criteria.
• Citizen Science Initiatives consisting of or benefitting entities subject to EU sanctions are not eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Ars Electronica.