Deadline: 30-Oct-2026
Sparkling Science 2.0 provides non-repayable grants of up to €350,000 per project for citizen science research projects in Austria. The program promotes collaboration between research institutions, educational institutions, and partners from business and society while increasing the participation of children, young people, and adults in research.
What Is Sparkling Science 2.0?
Sparkling Science 2.0 is an Austrian funding program supporting innovative citizen science research projects that connect scientific research with education and wider society.
The program is managed by OeAD on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research.
It builds on previous Sparkling Science funding rounds, which supported 61 projects with €21 million.
The program aims to strengthen the role of citizen science in Austria by creating meaningful partnerships between research organizations, schools, educational institutions, and other societal stakeholders.
What Is Citizen Science?
Citizen science involves members of the public participating in research processes alongside professional researchers.
Within Sparkling Science 2.0, children, adolescents, adults, students, teachers, educational institutions, and other partners can contribute to research activities.
The approach can help:
- Connect scientific research with education.
- Increase public participation in research.
- Give young people greater exposure to science.
- Develop scientific and research skills.
- Encourage open and participatory research.
- Strengthen cooperation between scientific and educational institutions.
- Transfer research methods and knowledge into educational settings.
What Are the Strategic Objectives?
Sparkling Science 2.0 has several strategic objectives aimed at strengthening research, education, and societal engagement.
Develop Internationally Relevant Research
Projects should contribute to innovative research and generate results that have relevance beyond the immediate project environment.
International networking is encouraged where it can strengthen citizen science knowledge and research collaboration.
Strengthen Research-Education Cooperation
The program seeks to intensify cooperation between research institutions and educational institutions.
This can create stronger connections between scientific research and classroom or educational practice.
Increase Young People’s Exposure to Science
Projects should provide meaningful opportunities for children and young people to engage with scientific research.
The goal is to make science more accessible and encourage greater interest and participation.
Reduce Barriers to Scientific Participation
The program aims to reduce barriers that may prevent people from engaging in science.
Particular attention is given to students from peripheral regions and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Improve Secondary-to-Tertiary Education Pathways
Sparkling Science 2.0 also aims to improve the permeability between secondary and tertiary education by creating stronger connections between schools, universities, and research institutions.
Establish Citizen Science in Education and Research
The program seeks to anchor citizen science approaches more firmly within Austria’s education and science systems.
What Are the Operational Goals?
The program supports projects that combine scientific research with meaningful participation.
Key operational goals include:
- Developing innovative citizen science research projects.
- Creating sustainable networks between research and educational institutions.
- Involving children, adolescents, and adults in research.
- Transferring methodological research knowledge into education.
- Encouraging international networking.
- Supporting transparent research processes.
- Strengthening citizen science capacity in schools.
- Developing or strengthening science-focused priorities in schools.
Projects should demonstrate how citizen participation contributes meaningfully to the research process rather than treating participants solely as recipients of scientific information.
How Much Funding Is Available?
Sparkling Science 2.0 provides non-repayable grants of up to €350,000 per project.
Additional funding may be available when projects meet specific strategic criteria.
The maximum funding can increase by:
- Up to €350,000: Standard maximum grant.
- Up to €385,000: For projects that meet one additional criterion related to international citizen science networking or participation of schools from peripheral regions or schools with limited previous citizen science experience.
- Up to €420,000: For projects that meet both additional criteria.
The actual level of funding is determined according to project eligibility and funding needs.
When Can Funding Increase to €420,000?
Projects may be eligible for funding of up to €420,000 when they meet both of the additional strategic criteria.
These involve:
- Developing citizen science know-how through international networking.
- Promoting participation by schools located in peripheral regions or schools with little previous experience in citizen science.
Applicants seeking enhanced funding should clearly demonstrate how their project addresses the relevant criteria.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Eligible applicants are legal entities outside the federal administration that have the necessary economic, financial, and professional capacity to carry out the proposed project.
Eligible applicant types include:
- Universities
- Private universities
- Non-university research institutions
- Universities of applied sciences
- Universities of education
- Non-profit associations
- Non-profit organizations pursuing scientific purposes in cooperation with research institutions
Applicants should demonstrate that they have the institutional and professional capacity necessary to manage the research project and associated funding.
What Role Do Cooperation Partners Play?
Sparkling Science 2.0 is built around collaboration.
Research institutions and other participating partners are expected to demonstrate their commitment to the proposed project.
Cooperation partners must demonstrate:
- Commitment to the project.
- Participation in the proposed collaboration.
- Joint responsibility where required for the grant.
- Relevant expertise or contribution to the research and education objectives.
Partnerships should be meaningful and clearly connected to the project’s research and citizen science activities.
Are Austrian Schools Required to Participate?
The application must include letters of intent from Austrian schools.
These letters demonstrate the schools’ willingness to participate in the proposed project.
Applicants should therefore establish relationships with participating schools before submitting the application and clearly define the intended role of each school.
What Types of Projects Are a Good Fit?
A strong Sparkling Science 2.0 project should combine scientific research with meaningful participation by educational institutions and/or members of the wider community.
Suitable concepts may focus on:
- Citizen science research.
- School-based research.
- Youth participation in science.
- Participatory research.
- Open science approaches.
- Science education.
- Research methodology in education.
- Community-based research.
- Collaboration between schools and universities.
- International citizen science networks.
- Science engagement in peripheral regions.
The research question should be scientifically meaningful while also creating genuine opportunities for participants to contribute.
How to Develop a Strong Sparkling Science 2.0 Proposal
1. Start With a Strong Research Question
Clearly define the scientific problem the project will investigate.
Explain why the research matters and what new knowledge or evidence the project is expected to generate.
2. Define Citizen Participation
Explain exactly how children, adolescents, adults, students, teachers, or other community members will participate.
Participation should be connected to meaningful stages of the research process.
3. Build Strong Research-Education Partnerships
Clearly define the responsibilities of research institutions, schools, universities, and other participating organizations.
Each partner should have a meaningful role rather than being included only for administrative purposes.
4. Demonstrate Educational Value
Explain how the project will benefit participating schools and learners.
This could include:
- Research skills
- Scientific literacy
- Methodological knowledge
- Practical research experience
- Increased interest in science
- New educational resources
- Stronger links with higher education
5. Address Inclusion
Projects should consider how participation can be made accessible to groups that have fewer opportunities to engage with science.
This is particularly relevant for schools in peripheral regions and participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
6. Include Knowledge Transfer
Explain how research methods, findings, and experiences will be transferred into the education system.
The project should have potential to leave lasting knowledge and capacity within participating institutions.
7. Consider International Networking
International cooperation can strengthen the project’s citizen science methodology and knowledge base.
Where relevant, explain how international partners or networks will contribute to the project and how this will enhance its outcomes.
8. Build Transparent Research Processes
Applicants should explain how participants and partners will understand the research process, their roles, and how research results will be developed and communicated.
Transparency can strengthen trust and improve the quality of participatory research.
Why Is Sparkling Science 2.0 Important?
Sparkling Science 2.0 brings together research, education, and society through citizen science.
The program can help create a stronger research culture by giving people opportunities to participate directly in scientific processes.
It can also help schools build stronger relationships with research institutions while giving students practical exposure to scientific work.
The program’s emphasis on inclusion, international networking, open research, and knowledge transfer makes it relevant not only to individual research projects but also to the longer-term development of citizen science in Austria.
Key Benefits of the Program
Sparkling Science 2.0 can support:
- Innovative citizen science research.
- Collaboration between universities and schools.
- Greater participation of young people in science.
- Lifelong learning and scientific engagement.
- Research opportunities for communities.
- Stronger education-research partnerships.
- Inclusive participation in scientific activities.
- International citizen science networking.
- Transfer of research methods into education.
- Development of science-focused priorities in schools.
Sparkling Science 2.0 at a Glance
- Program: Sparkling Science 2.0
- Country: Austria
- Program manager: OeAD
- Federal ministry: Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
- Funding type: Non-repayable grant
- Standard maximum: Up to €350,000 per project
- Enhanced maximum: Up to €385,000 for projects meeting one additional criterion
- Highest possible funding: Up to €420,000 for projects meeting both additional criteria
- Main focus: Citizen science research
- Key participants: Research institutions, educational institutions, schools, children, adolescents, adults, and societal partners
- Eligible applicants: Legal entities outside the federal administration with appropriate capacity
- School requirement: Letters of intent from Austrian schools
- Priority areas: Research-education cooperation, inclusion, youth participation, citizen science, international networking, and knowledge transfer
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sparkling Science 2.0?
Sparkling Science 2.0 is an Austrian funding program supporting citizen science research projects that bring together research institutions, educational institutions, and wider society.
How much funding can a project receive?
Projects can receive up to €350,000 in standard funding. The amount can increase to €385,000 when one additional strategic criterion is met and up to €420,000 when both additional criteria are met.
What is the maximum funding of €420,000 based on?
The highest funding level can apply to projects that both develop citizen science know-how through international networking and promote participation by schools from peripheral regions or schools with little previous citizen science experience.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include universities, private universities, non-university research institutions, universities of applied sciences, universities of education, and eligible non-profit organizations or associations working in cooperation with research institutions.
Do applicants need to work with schools?
Yes. Letters of intent from Austrian schools must be included in the application, demonstrating their commitment to participate.
Can non-profit organizations participate?
Yes. Non-profit associations or organizations pursuing scientific purposes can be eligible when they cooperate with research institutions and meet the other requirements.
What does citizen science mean in this program?
Citizen science involves children, young people, adults, and other members of society participating meaningfully in research activities alongside professional researchers.
Conclusion
Sparkling Science 2.0 provides substantial non-repayable funding for innovative citizen science projects that connect research, education, and society in Austria. With standard grants of up to €350,000 and enhanced funding of up to €420,000 for projects meeting both strategic criteria, the program offers significant support for collaborative research and education initiatives.
Applicants should develop projects with strong scientific questions, meaningful citizen participation, effective research-education partnerships, inclusive approaches, transparent processes, and clear plans for transferring knowledge into the education system. Partnerships with Austrian schools and, where appropriate, international citizen science networks can further strengthen the project’s alignment with the program’s objectives.
For more information, visit OeAD.