SciShops.eu · Project

A Digital Platform That Matches Community Needs with Research Services Across Europe

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project.scishops.eu

Imagine a neighborhood has a pollution problem but no idea who to ask for help. A "science shop" acts like a matchmaker — it takes that real-world problem, finds a university or research team willing to investigate it, and brokers the whole process. This project built a digital platform and a practical toolkit so that any organization — a small business, an NGO, a city council — can set up its own science shop and connect communities with researchers. They established at least ten new science shops across Europe during the project and created an online twinning service so newcomers can pair up with experienced shops for guidance.

By the numbers

10+

New science shops established across Europe during the project

Partner organizations in the consortium

Countries represented in the consortium

Total project deliverables produced

Universities involved in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Many organizations — from municipalities to corporations — need to engage local communities around real concerns (environmental impact, health risks, social issues) but lack a structured way to connect those concerns with qualified research. Without a proper channel, community frustration grows while research capacity sits unused. The gap between what people need answered and what researchers can investigate remains wide, especially outside major university cities.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered a fully operational digital platform with three core components: an Interactive Knowledge Base of best practices for running science shops, a digital twinning service that matches organizations with experienced science shops or research partners, and European-wide digital awareness channels with data visualization dashboards. They also produced a Guide for Establishment and Running of a Science Shop and a Strategy for Community-Based Participatory Research, alongside 33 total deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Universities with third-mission or community engagement mandatesRegional development agencies and municipalities seeking evidence-based policy inputLarge industrial companies with CSR or community relations obligationsNGOs and non-profits needing research support for advocacyInnovation hubs and technology parks looking to connect with local communities

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Corporate Social Responsibility & Community Relations

enterprise

Target: Large companies or industrial facilities needing structured community engagement around local environmental or social concerns

If you are an industrial company dealing with community opposition or local engagement obligations — this project developed a tested methodology and digital matchmaking platform that connects community concerns with qualified research teams. With at least 10 new science shops established across Europe, the model is proven to work across different organizational types including SMEs and large enterprises.

Higher Education & University Services

any

Target: Universities looking to formalize their community engagement and third-mission activities

If you are a university struggling to connect your research capacity with real community needs — this project built a Knowledge Base of best practices and a digital twinning service that pairs new science shops with experienced ones. The platform covers 13 countries and was validated with 18 partner organizations across 7 universities, 5 research institutes, and 3 industry partners.

Public Administration & Regional Development

any

Target: Regional development agencies, municipalities, or innovation hubs wanting to channel citizen needs into research-backed solutions

If you are a regional authority looking to bridge the gap between citizen concerns and available research expertise — this project delivered a ready-to-use Guide for Establishment and Running of a Science Shop, plus a digital platform with matchmaking and awareness features. The consortium spanned 13 countries, providing a cross-border model that can be adapted to local governance structures.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to set up a science shop using these tools?

The project data does not include specific cost figures for establishing a science shop. The EU contribution amount is not available in the dataset. However, the project produced a free Guide for Establishment and Running of a Science Shop and a digital platform with twinning services that reduce setup costs by pairing newcomers with experienced shops.

Can this model scale beyond the original project partners?

Yes — the project was explicitly designed for expansion. At least 10 new science shops were established during the project period, and the digital twinning service allows any organization to find a research partner or experienced science shop for guidance. The Knowledge Base and awareness channels remain publicly accessible for new adopters.

Who owns the platform and tools — can we use them freely?

The project was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon 2020. Based on available project data, the platform, guides, and knowledge base were designed for public use to expand the science shop ecosystem. Specific licensing terms should be confirmed with the coordinator, SYNYO GmbH.

Is the platform still operational after the project ended?

The project ended in February 2020. Based on the deliverable descriptions, the digital platform including the twinning service and awareness channels were described as 'up, running, and constantly filled with new content.' Current operational status should be verified at the project website.

What types of organizations can set up a science shop?

The project specifically tested the model across different organization types: SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, non-profits, research institutes, and universities. The consortium included 7 universities, 5 research organizations, 3 industry partners, and 3 other organizations, demonstrating broad applicability.

How does this differ from standard consulting or research procurement?

Science shops use community-based participatory research — meaning the community group stays involved throughout the research process, from defining the challenge to taking responsibility for outcomes. The digital twinning service adds a layer of peer support that standard consulting does not provide, connecting new shops with experienced ones across 13 countries.

Consortium

Who built it

The SciShops.eu consortium of 18 partners across 13 countries is heavily tilted toward academia and research (12 of 18 partners), with only 3 industry partners and a 17% industry ratio. This signals a project rooted in the research community rather than the commercial sector. The coordinator, SYNYO GmbH from Austria, is an SME — which brings entrepreneurial agility. However, with only 2 SMEs total, the commercial sustainability of the outputs post-project is a concern. The geographic spread across Western, Central, and Southern Europe (AT, BE, CY, DE, ES, HU, IT, LT, NL, RO, SE, SI, UK) gives the model broad cultural validation, which is valuable for any organization considering adoption in their own region.

SYNYO GmbHCoordinator · AT
UNIVERSITEIT LEIDENparticipant · NL
INSTITUT JOZEF STEFANparticipant · SI
BAY ZOLTAN ALKALMAZOTT KUTATASI KOZHASZNU NONPROFIT KFT.participant · HU
HANDELSBLATT GMBHparticipant · DE
VIESOJI ISTAIGA SOCIALINIU INOVACIJU INSTITUTASparticipant · LT
UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTIparticipant · RO
WUPPERTAL INSTITUT FUR KLIMA, UMWELT, ENERGIE GGMBHparticipant · DE
CENTRE INTERNACIONAL DE METODES NUMERICS EN ENGINYERIAparticipant · ES
THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORDparticipant · UK
KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVENparticipant · BE
VETENSKAP & ALLMANHET, VAparticipant · SE
UNIVERSITAET HOHENHEIMparticipant · DE
UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRIDparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI BRESCIAparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

SYNYO GmbH (Austria) — an SME coordinating from Vienna. Use Google AI search to find the project coordinator's contact details.

Order a report on this consortium See SYNYO GmbH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how the SciShops model could strengthen your organization's community engagement or CSR strategy? SciTransfer can connect you with the consortium team and help assess fit for your sector.

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