Leiden, 20 September 2021 – Last weekend, the 32nd edition of the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) took place in Salamanca. During the award ceremony on Sunday, the baton was passed on to Leiden. Consequently, the 33rd edition of the originally Dutch contest for young scientific talent will take place in the Netherlands again for the first time in more than 20 years. 

EUCYS during European City of Science

During 2022, Leiden will be the European City of Science. In a year that is filled to the brim with science, knowledge, art and expertise, young talent has to be included, of course. Last Sunday, after a successful hybrid edition in Salamanca, EUCYS was passed on to the Dutch Leiden2022 team. Consequently, after more than 20 years, EUCYS will be held in its country of origin again, from 12 to 18 September 2022.

The importance of young talent was also mentioned last Wednesday, 15 September, in the State of the Union of Ursula von der Leyen, chair of the European Commission. She made a call in the State of the Union to proclaim 2022 the Year of European Youth. Former chair of the European Commission Jaques Delors already emphasised the importance of European young people by adopting the Europe-wide science grant, established by the Dutch Royal Philips company, and creating EUCYS in 1989.

The Dutch origin of the science contest, the call made by Ursula von der Leyen, and the fact that Leiden is European City of Science 2022, make Leiden the place par excellence to host the 33th EUCYS edition. For this occasion, a special EUCYS trailer was developed, which can be viewed by clicking on the button below this press release.

Europe and EUCYS

EUCYS is an initiative of the European Commission to promote cooperation and knowledge exchange between young scientists. Every year, talented young people from more than 40 countries come together in a European city to participate in this contest. In the meantime, EUCYS has grown into the most important platform for young scientists in Europe. Within the EU, EUCYS is part of a broader initiative to strengthen the ties between science and society. On the occasion of the return of the event to the Netherlands, Leiden2022 seizes the opportunity to innovate the contest. The participation age is broadened and the focus will be not only on the traditional themes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), but Leiden2022 adds the theme ‘Arts’ to them, making the switch from STEM to STEAM.