On 13 December 2023, the Official Gazette of the Province of Barcelona (BOPB) published the announcement of the call for subsidies to carry out district and city projects, activities and services for the year 2024. In this edition, the thematic area of Science and Universities (line Y of the call) has a budget allocation of 400,000 euros (up to 10.000 or 15.000 per project according to each modality).

On one hand, this grant will support events aimed primarily at the scientific community, aimed at the exchange of expert knowledge, both academic and research and professional – through conferences, congresses, debates and other activities – which have the potential, as well, to contribute to the national and international projection of the city of Barcelona.

On the other hand, through this line of subsidies, the City Council promotes initiatives aimed at the general public – both schools, adults, families, etc. – and that encourage scientific culture through outreach and educational actions and activities.

Finally, the call also calls for entities and research groups to request support for the implementation of participatory research activities, i.e., involving citizens in research projects “that respond to urban challenges such as the well-being of people, sustainability and the fight against climate change within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”.

Fostering local, sustainable, viable and non-profit projects

Excluding actions with a clear impact on the city or its outreach, the subsidized projects must be developed in the municipality of Barcelona, in order to promote the activity of the local science and innovation ecosystem. Regardless, they will be non-profit projects that ensure sustainability and gender transversality, and, in order to guarantee actual implementation, only proposals that can be executed during the year 2025 or, if applicable, within the 2025-2026 school year, will be approved.