D4.6 - Final Synthesis Report: Integrating Civic, Scientifi c, and Policy Agendas in Europe through Citizen Science

Many of the most significant challenges facing Europe, from climate change to social shifts, require active public involvement in decision-making to build trust and prevent polarisation. Citizen Science (CS), the active participation of the public in scientific research, offers a powerful bridge between the scientific community, policy-makers, and civil society. Despite strong public interest, a gap remains between the desire to contribute and the institutional opportunities to do so.

The IMPETUS Program: A Unique Approach

The IMPETUS project (funded by Horizon Europe) was designed to address systemic barriers such as fragmented funding and limited formal recognition. Through its Accelerator programme, it provided €2.55 million in tiered grants to 129 citizen science initiatives (CSIs). What made IMPETUS unique was its focus on:

● Tiered financial support: Differentiated grants (kick-start vs. sustaining) ensured accessibility for grassroots initiatives while supporting the growth of mature projects.

● Non-financial capacity building: Projects received intensive mentoring (avg. 14 hours), "bootcamps," and training in data quality (FAIR principles), impact reporting, and strategic advocacy planning.

● Innovative engagement: Rather than relying solely on written briefs, IMPETUS utilised Data Walks (on-site discussions between citizens and officials) and Backcasting Workshops using future scenarios to envision the citizen science landscape of 2030.

● High-level recognition: The project coordinated the European Union Prize for Citizen Science to validate citizen science achievements and their relevance to policymaking.