MUZEIKO FOUNDATION

Their core work

Muzeiko Foundation operates Bulgaria's first interactive science centre for children in Sofia — a hands-on museum where families engage with science through exhibits and educational programmes. In EU-funded research, they serve as a practice partner that brings real-world informal learning environments and engaged public audiences to research consortia. Their contribution is methodological: translating complex scientific topics (ocean health, climate, sustainability) into accessible experiences for citizens, particularly younger audiences. They also work on behavioural change and science education, connecting research outcomes to public awareness across formal and non-formal learning contexts.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first project (2015–2018), Muzeiko's contribution centred on oceans, environment, and engaging citizens in transatlantic marine science challenges — a topic-specific, campaign-style public engagement. By their second project (2018–2021), the focus shifted to the broader methodology of science education itself: how children and youth learn science outside formal school settings. The trajectory suggests a move from issue-specific public campaigns toward building reusable science education infrastructure and practices within European networks.

Muzeiko appears to be positioning itself as a specialist in science centre-based learning methodology, moving beyond single-topic campaigns toward a more durable role in European informal science education networks.

How they like to work

Muzeiko operates exclusively as a third party in EU projects — they provide access to their science centre, its audiences, and its educational expertise without taking on the administrative and financial responsibilities of formal consortium membership. Their 46 unique partners across 21 countries from just 2 projects indicates they join large, well-networked consortia rather than small bilateral partnerships. This makes them a relatively low-friction partner to include: they deliver a defined contribution (venue, public audiences, education methodology) without requiring significant project management overhead from coordinators.

Despite only 2 projects, Muzeiko has connected with 46 unique partners across 21 countries — an unusually broad network for an organisation of their size and role. This reflects the large consortia typical of CSA and RIA science communication projects, where many science centres and engagement organisations across Europe collaborate simultaneously.

What sets them apart

Muzeiko is the only Bulgarian interactive science centre with documented EU research project involvement, making them the natural choice for consortia that need a Balkan public engagement node. For any project that must demonstrate genuine citizen reach — families, children, non-specialist audiences — Muzeiko provides a physical venue and a captive, motivated public that few academic or research partners can replicate. Their appearance in both marine science communication and general science education signals a thematically flexible partner adaptable to different research contexts.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SeaChange
  A transatlantic RIA project connecting European and international partners around ocean health and behavioural change — Muzeiko's most thematically rich engagement, spanning marine science, citizen science, and environmental communication.
• SySTEM 2020
  A pan-European CSA focused on connecting science learning outside the classroom, placing Muzeiko within a structured network of informal science education providers across multiple EU countries.