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Their core work

NauKom (Association of Science Communicators) is a Serbian NGO dedicated to science communication and public engagement with research. They specialize in making scientific work accessible and relatable — humanizing researchers, creating hands-on science experiences, and bridging the gap between laboratories and the general public. Their work focuses on designing creative outreach formats (events, digital content, immersive experiences) that connect European research to local communities, particularly targeting younger audiences and non-specialist citizens.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

NauKom's early work (2014–2017) focused on humanizing science — showing the 'faces' and 'friendship' behind research, making labs feel 'cool' and theories 'hot.' From 2018 onward, they shifted decisively toward digital tools and technology-enhanced engagement, incorporating augmented reality, VR, AI, and gamification into their outreach. The later projects also adopted sustainability and entrepreneurship language, aligning with the European Green Deal agenda.

NauKom is moving toward technology-enhanced (VR/AR/AI) science communication with a growing emphasis on sustainability themes, making them a strong fit for future projects needing creative digital outreach tied to Green Deal topics.

How they like to work

NauKom always participates as a partner, never as coordinator, with consistently small funding shares (EUR 6,000–14,000 per project), indicating they serve a specialized support role within larger consortia. Their 7 unique partners across only 1 country collaboration suggests they work within a tight, recurring network. The sequential naming of their projects (ReConNeCt → Reconnect Upgrade 20 → Reconnect Restart 3) shows loyalty to established partnerships and iterative program development rather than one-off engagements.

NauKom has collaborated with 7 unique partners, but notably all recorded collaborations involve only 1 country, suggesting a concentrated network likely within the Western Balkans or nearby region. Their network is narrow but stable, built on repeat collaborations across the Reconnect project series.

What sets them apart

NauKom brings a rare combination: a Serbian science communication NGO with hands-on experience in immersive digital outreach (VR/AR) for European research projects. For consortium builders, they offer an authentic connection to Western Balkan audiences — a region increasingly prioritized in Horizon Europe widening participation calls. Their track record of iterating on the same program concept across three project cycles demonstrates reliability and the ability to sustain engagement activities beyond single funding periods.

Highlights from their portfolio

• COOLandHOT
  Their highest-funded project (EUR 14,000) with the most creative framing — positioning labs as 'cool' and theories as 'hot' to attract public interest in science.
• Reconnect Upgrade 20
  Marks their pivot to digital technology, introducing augmented reality and AI into science communication — a significant capability upgrade from their earlier analog approaches.
• Reconnect Restart 3
  Integrates European Green Deal themes with VR/AR outreach, showing their ability to align creative engagement with EU policy priorities.