The European launch of Science Comes to Town, a new Horizon Europe flagship initiative, will take place in Split from 19–21 January 2026. Together with the cities of Kiel, Brest, and Split, and more than 70 partner institutions, this year-long programme brings science and innovation closer to communities across Europe.
The Grand Opening in Split marks the official start of the initiative and invites citizens, researchers, educators, students, policy makers, and all friends of science to join the celebration.
Find more detail about the program and the registration links below!
Welcome Dinner - 19 January (by direct invitation only)
This exclusive gathering will bring together distinguished representatives from European institutions, government, academia, culture, business, and innovation ecosystems.
Official Opening Ceremony – 20 January (registration required)
09:00–13:00 | Hrvatski dom, Split
The Opening Ceremony will introduce the vision and goals of Science Comes to Town through a series of high-level speeches and presentations. Guests will hear from representatives of the three SCTT cities, national institutions, and the European Union. Real-time AI-enabled multilingual translation will be available for all attendees.
A central part of the morning programme is the panel discussion “Cities at the Centre of Science and Society”, moderated by Meta Knol, Director of Leiden European City of Science, exploring how European cities can strengthen their role in science engagement and innovation.
The ceremony also includes two parallel breakout sessions:
- The Cultural Economy: Bridging Science and Society - moderated by Maryline Fiaschi, CEO of Science|Business
- Science4Future, Future4Science: Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists - moderated by Boris Jokić, Director of the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb
(Note: The Science4Future session has limited seating and requires separate registration here.)
Interactive public Exhibition – 20 January (no registration required)
14:00–16:30 | Diocletian’s Cellars
Ongoing until Jan 24
All citizens and visitors are invited to join an afternoon exhibition featuring:
- Initiatives from the SCTT cities of Brest, Kiel, and Split
- SEA-EU Alliance projects
- European Commission programmes
- Croatian and European science-communication and education initiatives
The exhibition is designed as an interactive, hands-on experience and provides the first preview of the activities that will unfold throughout 2026.
In addition, a complementary exhibition, “Portraits of French Scientists,” will be on display at the Alliance française de Split until 29 January.
Working Meetings – 21 January
A series of coordination and planning meetings will bring together SCTT beneficiaries, the SEA-EU Rectors’ Council, and the SEA-EU Cities’ Council. These sessions support knowledge exchange and preparation for the year-long programme across Europe.
Join Us in Split
The Grand Opening of Science Comes to Town is an opportunity to experience the beginning of a European initiative that connects science, culture, innovation, and people. We warmly invite everyone interested in science, curiosity, and community to take part.
Register your attendance at the official opening ceremony here!
The official opening ceremony will also be available for digital attendance via livestream (no registration required).
We look forward to welcoming you in Split in January 2026.