General Information
1) What is the European University Festival?
The European University Festival is a permanent European platform connecting universities, research, institutions and industry to develop concrete solutions to global challenges.
The 2026–2027 edition is dedicated to Climate Change, transforming university knowledge, research and innovation into real-world impact.
The platform was officially launched in Turin on 21 May 2026, opening the European Call for Universities.
The Final Phase will take place in Turin from 29 June to 3 July 2027, bringing together selected universities and projects from across Europe.
2) What is the mission of the Festival?
The mission of the Festival is to transform university knowledge, research and innovation into real-world impact by supporting projects with high scientific, social and environmental value.
Through international visibility, institutional collaboration and dedicated funding mechanisms, the Festival connects universities, institutions and industry to develop scalable solutions to global challenges.
The 2026–2027 edition focuses specifically on Climate Change.
3) What is the theme of the Festival?
The 2026–2027 edition of the European University Festival focuses on Climate Change, addressing its scientific, environmental, technological, cultural, economic and social dimensions.
4) Under which institutional patronage is the Festival held?
The European University Festival is held under the High Patronage of the European Parliament and the Patronage of the Holy See, through the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
For 2026, the Festival has also received the patronage of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO.
The Piedmont Region (Regione Piemonte) supports the initiative as an Institutional Partner.
These recognitions and institutional collaborations reflect the European, educational and international dimension of the Festival.
5) Why was Turin selected as the host city?
Turin represents one of Europe’s historic centers of scientific and industrial innovation.
The city and its surrounding area also host one of the most significant meteorological and climatological traditions in Europe.
Historical meteorological observations in the Turin area date back to the mid-18th century, with temperature records starting in 1753, precipitation records from 1802 and snowfall records from 1787.
Particularly significant is the historic meteorological station of Moncalieri, active since 1865 at the Real Collegio Carlo Alberto, representing one of Italy’s longest continuous climate observation series and an important reference point for the study of European climate evolution.
This heritage makes Turin a scientifically and symbolically coherent location for a Festival dedicated to climate change.
6) Where will the Final Phase of the Festival take place?
The main programme of the Final Phase of the European University Festival will take place in Turin from 29 June to 3 July 2027.
Further details regarding individual venues and the Closing Ceremony will be announced separately.
Official Launch
7) When will the Festival be officially launched?
The official launch of the European University Festival platform will take place on 21 May 2026 in Turin.
The event will mark the opening of the European Call for Universities.
Call for Universities
8) When will the Call for Universities open?
The official European Call for Universities will open on 21 May 2026.
9) What is the project submission period?
Universities may submit projects from 21 May 2026 until 31 December 2026 (23:59 CET).
10) Who can participate?
Recognized European universities, higher education institutions and academic research teams may submit projects addressing climate change and global sustainability challenges.
11) Which thematic areas are included?
Projects may fall within one of the following areas:
• Science & Environment
• Art & Cultural Innovation
• Sustainable Gastronomy
• Sport & Sustainability
Interdisciplinary and scalable projects at the European level are strongly encouraged.
12) How does the selection process work?
The process includes several stages of independent scientific evaluation.
Up to 150 projects may be selected across Europe during the initial evaluation phase.
From these projects, 24 finalist universities/projects will be invited to participate in the Final Phase of the Festival in 2027.
Twelve projects will ultimately be recognised as winners, with three winners in each of the four thematic categories.
13) When will the finalists be announced?
The 24 finalists will be officially announced in March 2027.
14) Is participation free for universities?
Yes. Participation in the European University Festival is free of charge for universities.
Selected institutions may present their projects without registration fees.
Any logistical expenses not directly related to the selection process may be communicated separately by the organization.
Participation Details
15) Do universities need to travel to Turin to participate?
No. Participation in the initial selection phase is entirely online.
Universities submit their projects through the official European Call.
Only the 24 finalist institutions will be invited to present their projects in person during the Final Phase of the Festival in Turin in June 2027.
16) Can students participate in the Call?
Yes.
Student teams may participate provided they are formally affiliated with a recognised university or higher education institution.
Applications must be submitted by a faculty member, researcher or academic representative using an institutional email address.
17) Can universities submit more than one project?
Yes.
Each institution may submit projects in different thematic areas, with a maximum of one project per thematic area.
Interdisciplinary proposals are welcome, provided they are submitted within one of the four thematic categories.
18) What type of projects are most likely to be selected?
Projects that demonstrate:
• measurable environmental impact
• strong scientific or methodological foundation
• innovative and scalable solutions
• interdisciplinary collaboration
• clear contribution to climate mitigation or adaptation
are more likely to be selected.
The Festival encourages projects capable of generating practical and scalable solutions to climate challenges.
19) What happens to selected projects after the Festival?
Selected projects may enter a structured development pathway within the European University Festival – The European Platform for Global Challenges.
This may include:
• institutional visibility
• connections with industrial partners
• access to dedicated funding mechanisms
• opportunities for further collaboration and implementation
The objective is to help transform selected university research and innovation into real-world impact.
20) Is the Festival only for European universities?
The Call is primarily addressed to European universities and academic institutions.
However, the Festival welcomes international collaboration, and global partners may participate through research partnerships, institutional cooperation and media involvement.
Global Concert for Climate Action
21) What is the Global Concert for Climate Action?
The Global Concert for Climate Action is the major international media event associated with the Festival.
It will take place in Turin during the Final Phase of the Festival in June 2027.
22) What is the significance of the Global Concert?
The Concert represents the international broadcast moment of the Festival, combining culture, music and institutional engagement to promote climate action and academic innovation.
23) How will the proceeds of the Global Concert be used?
Net proceeds generated by the Global Concert for Climate Action will contribute to dedicated funding mechanisms supporting the development and implementation of selected university projects.
Scientific Committee
24) Who composes the Scientific Committee of the Festival?
The Scientific Committee of the European University Festival brings together internationally recognized experts from climate science, economics, finance, law, human development, sport, arts and sustainable food systems.
Guest of Honour
Professor Michael Oppenheimer – Princeton University; long-time participant and author in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Members of the Scientific Committee
Science & Marine Impact
Professor Filippo Giorgi – Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
Professor Katinka Bellomo – University of Padova
Dr. Virna Meccia – Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, CNR
Climate Economics, Finance & Risk
Professor Carlo Carraro – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Dr. Gianluca Spinetti – Sustainable Fitch
Human Rights, Rule of Law & European Governance
Dr. Federico Belli – Court of Appeal of Turin / European Court of Human Rights
Leadership & Human Capital
Mr. Joshua Freedman – CEO and Co-Founder, Six Seconds
Sport & Environmental Impact
Dr. Giorgio Chiellini – Head of Football Institutional Relations, Juventus
Arts & Cultural Innovation
Professor Salvatore Bitonti – Accademia Albertina di Belle Arti di Torino
Professor Sara Taglialagamba – University of Urbino
Sustainable Food Systems
Dr. Flavia Fabiano – CIRAD
Chef Igles Corelli – Circular Cuisine pioneer and international chef
25) What is the role of the Scientific Committee?
The Scientific Committee ensures the independent evaluation of submitted projects, defines methodological criteria and contributes to the scientific and cultural direction of the Festival.
Governance and Transparency
26) Who promotes the Festival?
The Festival is promoted by the Union of European Experts Chambers (UCEE), a non-profit NGO accredited in the European Union Transparency Register.
27) How is transparency ensured?
Transparency is ensured through the separation of scientific evaluation, operational management and financial administration, with clear criteria and dedicated reporting mechanisms.
28) What is the European University Climate Action Fund?
It is the financial instrument dedicated to supporting the concrete implementation of selected university projects.
Partnerships and Media
29) Is the Festival open to institutional and corporate partnerships?
Yes.
The Festival develops partnerships with companies, foundations, institutions and international organizations committed to climate innovation and sustainability.
Official Contact
30) How can I contact the organization?
For all inquiries (universities, institutions, media, partnerships and general information):
info@europeanuniversityfestival.eu
Additional Participation Questions
31) Can projects that are already ongoing be submitted?
Yes.
The Festival particularly encourages the submission of projects that are already under development, being tested or implemented within universities.
The objective of the platform is to accelerate and amplify existing academic research capable of generating measurable impact on climate and environmental challenges.
32) Are multidisciplinary projects encouraged?
Yes.
Climate change is a complex global challenge that requires interdisciplinary solutions.
Projects combining fields such as:
• environmental science
• engineering and technology
• economics and public policy
• culture and communication
• food systems and sustainability
• sports and social engagement
are strongly encouraged.
Collaborations between different faculties or institutions are also welcome.
33) Does participation create intellectual property obligations?
No.
Universities retain full ownership of their intellectual property and research results.
Participation in the Festival does not require the transfer of patents, research rights or proprietary knowledge.
The Festival platform is designed to facilitate visibility, dialogue and collaboration while respecting academic independence.