Armenia will host the large-scale science outreach initiatives European Researchers' Night and Researchers at Schools for the first time during the 2026–2027 period.

The proposal "ERNA – European Researchers' Night in Armenia", submitted by the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, has been selected for funding under the MSCA & Citizens 2025 call launched by the European Commission.

The MSCA & Citizens call is implemented within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, which forms part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation.

A total of 49 projects from 40 countries were selected for funding from 241 submitted proposals, with the European Commission allocating €16.3 million to support their implementation.

The ERNA project will be implemented in Armenia during 2026–2027 and will include two main programme components:

1. European Researchers' Night
2. Researchers at Schools

Through these initiatives, researchers, early-career scientists and students will engage with the wider public — including school pupils and young people — presenting scientific research through live experiments, demonstrations, public talks and interactive activities.

Guided by the motto "Science for Citizens, Citizens for Science — Facing Challenges, Shaping Futures" the ERNA project aims to:

• foster direct dialogue between researchers and society,
• increase public awareness of science and innovation,
• highlight the role of researchers in addressing societal challenges,
• encourage young people to pursue careers in science and research.

The initiative is fully aligned with the functions assigned to the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia under the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Higher Education and Science, including:

• promoting science communication and the popularization of research,
• strengthening the scientific community and developing scientific expertise,
• expanding international cooperation and supporting Armenia’s integration into the European Research Area.

Through the implementation of the ERNA project, the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia will contribute to strengthening the visibility of the Armenian scientific community within the European research landscape while promoting closer interaction between science and society.

The European Researchers' Night initiative is organised annually in hundreds of cities across Europe and attracts millions of visitors. In 2026 and 2027, the event will take place in Armenia for the first time, providing a new platform for cooperation between the scientific community, the education sector and the wider public.

This achievement represents an important step toward increasing public engagement with science and encouraging the next generation to consider scientific careers.

Project partners: Higher Education and Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, "Scientific and Innovation Partnership Assistance Center" Foundation, "Armbiotechnology" Scientific-Production Center, Enterprise Incubator Foundation.