ASSOCIATION EUROPEENNE DES EXPOSITIONS SCIENTIFIQUES TECHNIQUES ET INDUSTRIELLES

Their core work

Ecsite is the European network of science centres and museums, connecting over 300 member institutions across Europe. They specialize in bridging the gap between scientific research and the general public through exhibitions, science communication, and public engagement activities. In H2020 projects, they bring deep expertise in designing participatory formats — science cafés, co-creation workshops, maker spaces, and museum-based outreach — that translate complex research topics into accessible public experiences. They also serve as a pan-European mobilization platform, activating their member network to run coordinated engagement campaigns across dozens of countries simultaneously.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014–2018, Ecsite focused on broad public awareness campaigns and social media dissemination — projects like SeaChange (ocean literacy), SeeingNano (nanotechnology awareness), and ScienceSquared (ERC research communication) were about getting science into public view. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward structured frameworks: Responsible Research and Innovation, citizen science platforms, ethics governance, and institutional change (GRACE, EU-Citizen.Science, TechEthos). The most recent projects (2020–2023) show a further pivot into digital transformation of museums (DOORS) and applied engagement with specific industrial challenges like circular economy (WATER-MINING), suggesting Ecsite is moving from general awareness toward more structured, policy-connected, and sector-specific engagement work.

Ecsite is evolving from broadcasting science to the public toward structured two-way engagement — expect them to offer citizen science design, ethics dialogue facilitation, and digital museum innovation in future consortia.

How they like to work

Ecsite operates almost exclusively as a consortium partner (21 of 22 projects), which reflects their role as a network mobilizer rather than a research driver — they bring reach and engagement infrastructure, not research questions. With 248 unique partners across 36 countries, they function as a high-connectivity hub, rarely repeating the same consortium. This makes them an excellent partner for any project needing pan-European public engagement, as they can activate a distributed network of science centres quickly and at scale.

Ecsite has collaborated with 248 unique partners across 36 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected science engagement organizations in H2020. Their network spans virtually all EU member states and associated countries, with no narrow geographic concentration — consistent with their role as a pan-European association.

What sets them apart

Ecsite is not a research organization — they are the infrastructure layer for public engagement in EU projects. No other H2020 participant can offer the same combination: a network of 300+ science centres and museums, ready to run synchronized engagement activities across Europe. For any consortium that needs a credible, experienced partner for public communication, citizen dialogue, or responsible innovation work packages, Ecsite is the default choice — and their 22-project track record proves the EU Commission agrees.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SPARKS
  Their only coordinator role (EUR 1.4M) — a pan-European exhibition and science café program on health innovation, demonstrating their ability to lead large-scale public engagement campaigns.
• TechEthos
  Their second-largest grant (EUR 650K) and a marker of their shift toward ethics governance — they helped develop codes of conduct for high-impact technologies like AI and climate engineering.
• DOORS
  Their largest participant grant (EUR 734K) and most recent strategic direction — a digital incubator helping museums transform their operations and audience engagement through technology.