CENTRUM NAUKI KOPERNIK

Their core work

Centrum Nauki Kopernik (Copernicus Science Centre) is Poland's flagship interactive science museum in Warsaw, dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific research and the general public. They design and deliver exhibitions, science cafés, maker spaces, and educational programs that translate complex research topics into hands-on experiences for diverse audiences. In EU projects, they contribute expertise in public engagement methodology, science communication design, and community-based learning — serving as a key node for reaching citizens across Central and Eastern Europe.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earlier H2020 projects (2015-2018), Kopernik focused on traditional science centre activities — pan-European exhibitions, science cafés, and public outreach on topics like health technology and frugal innovation. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward more participatory and hands-on methods: citizen science, maker education, FabLabs, design thinking, and deeper engagement with responsible research and innovation. The trajectory shows a clear move from broadcasting science TO the public toward co-creating knowledge WITH communities.

Kopernik is evolving from a traditional science museum into a participatory innovation hub, making them increasingly relevant for projects needing genuine community co-creation rather than one-way dissemination.

How they like to work

Kopernik consistently joins as a participant or third party rather than leading consortia — their role is to deliver the public engagement and science communication component within larger research projects. With 59 unique partners across 32 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in very large, pan-European consortia (averaging ~15 partners per project). This broad network makes them easy to integrate into new consortia, and their non-competitive public-body status means they complement rather than compete with research partners.

Despite only 4 projects, Kopernik has built a remarkably wide network of 59 partners across 32 countries, reflecting the pan-European nature of science engagement consortia. Their reach spans nearly all EU member states, giving them contacts and operational experience across the continent.

What sets them apart

As Central-Eastern Europe's most prominent science centre, Kopernik offers something most Western European partners cannot: direct access to Polish and CEE audiences for public engagement activities, which is increasingly important for EU projects needing geographic balance. Their combination of physical infrastructure (museum, FabLabs, exhibition spaces) with methodological expertise in participatory science makes them a dual-purpose partner. For any consortium needing credible, large-scale public engagement — especially with non-academic audiences — Kopernik is one of the strongest choices in the region.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SPARKS
  Their largest funded project (EUR 83,068), delivering pan-European exhibitions and science cafés across multiple science centres on health technology and frugal innovation.
• Make it Open
  Represents their strategic pivot toward maker education, FabLabs, and design thinking — signaling a new direction in hands-on STEAM engagement.
• BLOOM
  Demonstrates their ability to work at the intersection of arts, bioeconomy, and transdisciplinary research for public awareness — an unusual and valuable combination.