KINDERBURO UNIVERSITAT WIEN GMBH

Their core work

Kinderbüro Universität Wien is a Vienna-based organization that specializes in making science accessible to children, young people, and the general public. They design and run science engagement programs — including children's universities, science slams, hands-on workshops, and public science nights — that bridge the gap between academic research and everyday understanding. Their work connects schools, universities, and research institutions to create structured pathways for young people into STEM fields, operating across multiple European countries.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), the focus was on digital and social media as tools for STEM engagement — SciChallenge used competitions and digital platforms to attract young people to science, technology, engineering, and math. From 2019 onward, the emphasis shifted toward institutional and systemic change: PHERECLOS introduced open schooling frameworks, children's university networks, and open badges as formal mechanisms for connecting education systems with research institutions. The move is clearly from event-based outreach toward building lasting structural partnerships between schools and universities.

Moving from one-off science engagement events toward designing systemic frameworks that embed science communication into formal education structures.

How they like to work

Kinderbüro primarily joins consortia as a participant (4 out of 5 projects), contributing their science communication and youth engagement expertise to larger teams. However, they stepped up to coordinate PHERECLOS — their largest project by far (EUR 235,625) — indicating growing confidence and leadership capacity. With 40 unique partners across 17 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub rather than a niche specialist tied to a small circle.

A broad European network spanning 40 partners across 17 countries, including collaborations reaching Turkey (MERSCIN project). Their reach is notably wide for an SME of this size, reflecting the international nature of science engagement work.

What sets them apart

Kinderbüro sits at a rare intersection: they are not a university, not a school, and not a pure NGO — they are a dedicated intermediary organization purpose-built to connect academic research with young audiences and the general public. Their track record of running children's universities and open schooling programs gives them practical know-how that most research institutions lack internally. For any consortium needing a credible science-to-society or public engagement partner in Austria or Central Europe, they are a ready-made solution.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PHERECLOS
  Their only coordinated project and by far the largest (EUR 235,625), focused on building regional clusters connecting schools, universities, and communities — signals their flagship initiative.
• SciChallenge
  Their earliest and second-largest project (EUR 146,250), pioneering digital and social media approaches to STEM education for young people.
• Forschung begreifen
  Their most recent project combining citizen science with arts and research — shows expanding methodological range beyond traditional STEM outreach.