EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS)

The 35th edition of the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) will take place in Katowice (Poland) from 9 to 14 September 2024. The event is free of charge and will be open to families, schools and the general public.

This international science fair will bring together around 150 brilliant young scientists, aged 14 to 20, to Katowice, from almost 40 countries. The participants will present their scientific projects to an esteemed jury, to the general public and to their peers, with whom they will be able to exchange ideas and mutually learn. EUCYS 2024 is organised by the European Commission with the University of Silesia, Katowice, in cooperation with the Polish Children’s Fund.

More information

The EU Contest for Young Scientists gives students the opportunity to

• compete with the best of their peers at European level
• meet other young scientists with similar skills and interests
• get guidance from some of the most prominent scientists in Europe

It highlights the best of European scientific student achievements and attracts widespread media interest.

The contest was set up to promote the ideals of cooperation and information exchange between young European scientists. The contest is an initiative of the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme where it seeks to strengthen the efforts made in each participating country to highlight scientific student achievements and attract young people to careers in innovation, science, research and technology.

EUCYS Past contests

Young European scientists, aged between 14 and 20, who have won first prize at their national science competition with a project in any field of science, might be eligible to compete at EUCYS. 

Each year, organisers of participating National Contests are invited to nominate the first prize winning teams from the national contest to EUCYS where students compete at European level for prizes and prestigious awards.

Projects can be composed by individuals or teams of up to 3 participants. Each country may submit up to 3 projects, with a maximum of 6 contestants per country in total.  

Contestants are asked to provide a short video, a written project and a poster suitable for display at a public exhibition during the contest. Contestants will also be required to answer questions from members of the scientific jury.

The criteria used to assess projects are as follows

• originality and creativity in the identification of and the approach to the basic problem
• skill, care and thoroughness in designing and carrying out the study
• following through of the study from conception to conclusion
• reasoning and clarity in the interpretation of the results
• quality of written presentation and ability to discuss the project with the jury members

A jury of 20 - 25 international scientists, innovators, researchers, industry experts, is appointed by the European Commission to judge the competing projects. Jury members carry out this important work as individuals and not as representatives of an institution or country. The evaluate the projects adhering to the rules of the contest laid down by the Commission.

The contestants compete for core prizes on the basis of a written description of their work, their exhibited material and the interviews with the Contest Jury. In addition to this, the Jury awards a limited number of special donated prizes. These prizes offer some winners the opportunity to benefit from the specific experiences linked to the prize. It is up to the Jury to decide whether a prize-winner can receive both a core prize and a special donated prize. Core prizes are awarded to teams. Honorary awards are awarded to individuals; special donated prizes are mostly awarded to projects.

The decision of the jury is final.

The European Commission is very grateful to the organisations that donate these prestigious generous prizes to the contest.

Core Prizes

The Core Prizes are the main cash prizes awarded by the European Commission at the contest. In the case of a team winning such a prize, the amount is shared equally between the members of the team. There are four categories of Core Prizes:

• Four 1st Prizes worth €7,000 each
• Four 2nd Prizes worth €5,000 each
• Four 3rd Prizes worth €3,500 each
• Special Jury Prize for youth €2,500

Honorary Prizes associated with the First Prizes Awards

These prizes are restricted to EU members and Associated and Neighbourhood Countries.

• Stockholm International Youth Science
  Seminar (SIYSS)
• London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF)

Special Donated Prizes

The Special Donated Prizes are offered to contestants who, according to the EUCYS Jury, would benefit from the specific experience that these prizes offer. They are mostly study visits to leading scientific organisations:

The National Organisers are responsible for selecting projects, submitting applications, and for all communication with the Commission.