Science in society

Hidden hearing loss affects millions, but has no diagnosis or treatment options. EU-funded researchers have developed tools that could change both.

AI-assisted brain surgery, a reusable space capsule and a mission to clean up global supply chains. The winners of the 2026 EU Prize for Women Innovators are tackling some of society’s biggest challenges while inspiring the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

Europe has the science. Now it needs the scale. An EU-backed start-up summit is trying to close that gap.

Thousands of teenagers across Europe have tracked plastic pollution in rivers, and the data they collected is starting to make waves.

Forests across Europe are struggling with drought, fire and disease. Researchers working to future-proof them say one of the answers lies in their diversity.

AI systems are learning to listen to and decode the sounds of nature, helping scientists to track species and spot ecosystem changes much faster than traditional field surveys.

EU-funded researchers are helping schools and universities put sustainability into practice by giving students and communities the tools to make real environmental change.

More than 30 years ago, Europe made a decision: back researchers, trust their curiosity, and see where it leads. The results have been remarkable.

From predicting climate change to developing new medicines, supercomputers underpin modern science. Europe and Japan are now working together to make them even more powerful and reliable.

Across Europe, libraries are being reimagined as community hubs and creative spaces for the digital age, as researchers join forces with local communities and creatives.