CIENCIA VIVA-AGENCIA NACIONAL PARA A CULTURA CIENTIFICA E TECNOLOGICA

Their core work

Ciência Viva is Portugal's national agency for scientific culture, operating as the country's main bridge between research and the general public. They run science centres, museums, and public engagement programmes that translate complex research into accessible experiences for citizens, students, and educators. In EU projects, they bring expertise in science communication, open schooling models, responsible research and innovation (RRI) frameworks, and public deliberation methods. Their practical contribution is mobilising public audiences and designing formats — exhibitions, science cafés, educational labs — that make research outcomes visible and understandable to non-specialist communities.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2014–2018), Ciência Viva focused on broad public awareness campaigns across diverse topics — ocean health, space careers, nanotechnology, and general science communication through museums and exhibitions. From 2018 onward, their work shifted decisively toward open science infrastructure, responsible research governance, and structured open schooling models that embed science engagement into educational institutions. The trajectory shows a move from one-off awareness events toward systemic, institutional approaches to science-society interaction.

Ciência Viva is moving from event-based science outreach toward embedding open science practices and citizen engagement directly into schools, research institutions, and policy processes — making them a strong partner for projects needing structured public participation components.

How they like to work

Ciência Viva overwhelmingly operates as a participant or third party (14 of 16 projects), contributing public engagement and dissemination expertise to large consortia rather than leading them. With 207 unique partners across 40 countries, they function as a highly connected network node — comfortable working with diverse, international teams. Their two coordinator roles (FORESIGHT, REGGAE) were smaller Coordination and Support Actions, suggesting they lead when the topic is squarely within their science-society mandate but prefer to serve as a specialist contributor in larger research projects.

An exceptionally well-connected organisation with 207 unique consortium partners across 40 countries, giving them one of the broadest collaboration networks among Portuguese science engagement bodies. Their partnerships span research universities, science museums, policy institutes, and marine research centres across Europe and the Atlantic region.

What sets them apart

Ciência Viva is not a research lab — it is Portugal's dedicated national infrastructure for making science accessible to society. This gives them something most research partners cannot offer: direct access to public audiences through a national network of science centres and museums, plus deep experience in designing engagement formats that actually work. For any consortium needing a credible, experienced partner for public engagement, dissemination, or responsible innovation work packages, Ciência Viva brings institutional weight and a proven track record across 16 H2020 projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AORAC-SA
  Largest single grant (EUR 247,000) supporting the EU-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance — a flagship transatlantic marine cooperation initiative.
• FIT4RRI
  Substantial grant (EUR 187,500) addressing institutional change for responsible research and innovation — reflects their shift toward systemic governance work.
• FORESIGHT
  One of only two projects they coordinated, focused on public deliberation about future science and technology trends — showcasing their convening capability.