The competition is Europe's most important exhibition of student scientific research works, which showcases the best student research works in the European Union and beyond. The competition traditionally gathers the most talented students between the age of 14 and 20, giving them the opportunity to present their developed project to an international jury of researchers. The first competition under the supervision of the European Commission took place in Belgium in 1989, and since then it has already taken place in 22 countries of the European Union.
It is a great honor and responsibility to hold an event of this level in Latvia, and it can bring many advantages both to the participants of the competition and to Latvia as the host country of this competition.
The task of the competition is to encourage young people to engage in research activities, to promote international recognition in the fields of research, innovation and education, to encourage educational institutions to pay more attention to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, to promote cultural exchange and to create a more globally informed and interconnected generation of young researchers. Also, participation in the competition provides a platform for students, teachers, researchers and policy makers to create new cooperation.
The competition is usually held in the second half of September and lasts six days. It is organized in close cooperation between the host country and the European Commission. The competition program includes booth interviews with the jury, days of public visits, educational lectures for the participants with world and Latvian leading researchers, and cultural events. In the competition for young researchers of the European Union, main prizes, honorary prizes or special donation prizes or special prizes are awarded. Four first-place winners receive a cash prize of 7,000 euros, four second-place winners receive a cash prize of 5,000 euros, while four third-place winners receive a cash prize of 3,500 euros.
It is expected that the total costs of the tender preparation and implementation will be 1,250,554 euros, including funding from the European Commission in the amount of one million euros, while co-financing from the Latvian state budget is planned in the amount of 250,554 euros.
Photo: European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS)