Bringing science closer to citizens: EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos opens Armenia’s first-ever European Researchers’ Night
Marking a landmark milestone in European – Armenian scientific and educational cooperation, the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia launched the inaugural European Researchers’ Night in Armenia. Organised under the flagship EU Horizon Europe programme (specifically the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) in close collaboration with Armenia’s Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Gituzh Initiative, the two-day festival brought cutting-edge research out of the lab and directly into the public square across Yerevan, Gyumri, and Vanadzor.
At its core, European Researchers’ Night is designed to demystify science and spark the imaginations of the next generation—students, schoolchildren, and young innovators alike. Under the dual mottos “Science for Citizens, Citizens for Science: Facing Challenges, Shaping the Future” and “Science is Closer Than You Think,” the festival demonstrated how today’s curiosity can become tomorrow’s groundbreaking discovery.
EU Ambassador to Armenia Vassilis Maragos joined Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan and NAS RA President Ashot Saghyan at the National Academy of Sciences in Yerevan to officially tour the interactive festival grounds.
“I hope this event will act as a catalyst for schoolchildren and young people to focus their energy on education and research, bringing them closer to academic circles.” – EU Ambassador Vassilis Maragos
Ambassador Maragos, alongside Armenian officials, toured interactive exhibits, engaged directly with visiting students, and spoke with representatives from the more than 50 participating scientific, educational, and research organisations.
Empowering the next generation of thinkers
The festival served as the grand finale to Armenia’s nationwide “Science Week 2026.” Hands-on laboratory demonstrations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops transformed complex scientific principles into engaging, accessible experiences for young minds. A crucial highlight of the European Researchers’ Night initiative is the “Researchers at Schools” component. Running throughout the year, this initiative connects active scientists directly with school classrooms across Armenia—allowing students to ask questions, test hypotheses, and explore scientific careers firsthand.
While European Researchers’ Night takes place simultaneously in hundreds of cities across Europe every autumn, this year marks its historic first edition in Armenia. The EU’s support underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable development, research excellence, and youth empowerment throughout Armenia’s regions. Following the success of this inauguration, the initiative will continue as an annual tradition, with the next edition already confirmed for 2027.
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