MUSEO DELLE SCIENZE

Their core work

MUSEO DELLE SCIENZE (MUSE) is a natural science museum in Trento, Italy, that bridges scientific research with public engagement. Beyond its museum function, it actively participates in EU-funded research on artificial cells and protocell biology, contributing lab expertise in microfluidics and lipid bilayer systems. It also serves as a major platform for science communication, organizing European Researchers' Night events and public engagement activities around open science, STEAM education, and responsible innovation.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2019), MUSE focused almost entirely on science communication — organizing pan-European exhibitions, science cafés, and mutual learning activities around nanotechnology and health innovation. From 2019 onward, a clear shift occurred toward hands-on scientific research, with the ACDC project bringing them into artificial cell biology, microfluidics, and protocell engineering. This suggests the museum is expanding from pure public engagement into active laboratory research participation.

MUSE is evolving from a science communication platform into a dual-role organization that combines public engagement with active participation in synthetic biology research.

How they like to work

MUSE operates exclusively as a supporting partner — never as coordinator. Half of their projects are as third parties (linked to other beneficiaries), indicating they often contribute specific capabilities to larger efforts rather than driving project design. With 65 unique partners across 30 countries from just 4 projects, they plug into very large consortia, making them an accessible and well-connected partner for broad European networks.

Despite only 4 projects, MUSE has collaborated with 65 unique partners across 30 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by participation in large pan-European CSA consortia. Their reach spans most of the EU and beyond, with no single geographic concentration.

What sets them apart

MUSE occupies a rare niche as a natural science museum that also contributes to frontier research in synthetic biology. This dual identity — trusted public engagement platform plus wet-lab research capability — makes them uniquely valuable for projects that need both scientific work and public communication under one roof. For consortium builders, they offer a ready-made dissemination channel with built-in credibility among citizens.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ACDC
  Their largest funded project (EUR 161,086), and a significant departure into synthetic biology research involving artificial cells, microfluidics, and protocell engineering.
• SHARPER
  Part of the European Researchers' Night initiative in Italy, showcasing MUSE's role as a key Italian hub for researcher-citizen engagement around SDGs and green deal topics.