first call

First grantees from Journalism Science Alliance share their goals at the Meet & Greet 
First grantees from Journalism Science Alliance share their goals at the Meet & Greet  2560 1707 journalismsciencealliance

The Journalism Science Alliance hosted its first Meet & Greet session to welcome grantees from the 2025 call. The session gathered 51 scientists and journalists from the selected teams and some opportunities for collaboration between different teams have already emerged.

During a Zoom session held on 20 November, grantees introduced themselves, their extended teams and the projects they are about to start.

Grantees expressed how excited and enthusiastic they are about being part of the first selected cohort of Journalism Science Alliance, underlining that journalism and science together can tackle public interest matters, give voice to communities and increase public awareness in an enriching way.

The first call of the Journalism Science Alliance awarded almost one million euros in grants to 24 selected projects of journalist-scientist teams from 15 countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain.

The teams now have eight months to complete their projects of investigative journalism grounded in scientific evidence. Many projects deal with environmental issues, but other topics such as health, justice, politics, misinformation, or AI are also covered.

See all the information about the projects here.

Journalism Science Alliance awards one million euros to 24 projects of journalist-scientist teams from 15 countries
Journalism Science Alliance awards one million euros to 24 projects of journalist-scientist teams from 15 countries 7952 5304 journalismsciencealliance

The first call of the Journalism Science Alliance selected 24 projects of journalist-scientist teams from 15 countries, with almost one million euros in grants.

The selected teams have participants and organisations from 15 countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain.

The chosen candidates will have eight months to complete their projects of investigative journalism grounded in scientific evidence and focused on topics of public interest. Most of the selected projects deal with environmental issues, but other topics such as health or justice are also covered.

In addition to funding for developing their ideas, the selected teams will benefit from expert mentoring and have access to a dedicated training programme and networking opportunities.

The table below presents the selected media outlets and research institutions, their countries of origin, and the professionals who lead and co-lead the teams.

The 2025 call for proposals closed on 4 August and received 162 applications from 54 countries. An independent jury selected the winning proposals.

The next call for Journalism Science Alliance is scheduled to open in early 2026.

See more information about the selected projects here.


List of grantees in the call 2025 of the Journalism Science Alliance

CountriesOrganisations
Media outlet | Research organisation		Journalist
(Lead)		Scientist
(Co-lead)		Budget tier
Belgium, NetherlandsApache (De Werktitel cv) | Open FutureJan WalravenZuzanna Warso€ 20 000
BulgariaAgriGate Media | The Agricultural University – PlovdivHistrina Vasileva–€ 50 000
BulgariaBulgarian National Television | The Konstantin Preslavsky University of ShumenMilen AtanasovTsveteslava Ignatova-Ivanova€ 20 000
CroatiaFaktograf – Association for an Informed Public | Institute of Oceanography and FisheriesIvana ŽivkovićBranko Dragičević€ 50 000
Czech RepublicSamizdat, s.r.o. / The Czech Radio Data Team | Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of SciencesKlára FilipováBlanka Nyklovဠ50 000
Czech Republic, Finland– | University of Helsinki–Marianna Muravyeva€ 20 000
GermanyDeutsche Welle | German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)Luisa von RichthofenChristoph Kubitza€ 50 000
ItalyFacta – Science-based journalism for democracy | Theoretical and Scientific Data Science Group at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)Elisabetta TolaRoberto Trotta€ 50 000
ItalyLettera Emme (Metropolis) | University of MessinaAlessio CaspanelloFilippo Cucinotta€ 50 000
ItalyInvestigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI) | University of Insubria, Mario Negri Institute––€ 50 000
NetherlandsVersPers | Amsterdam University Medical Center, Dept. of Public and Occupational HealthIrene van den BergLuc Hagenaars€ 50 000
NetherlandsThe Contrapuntal | Institute for Water Education, IHE DelftRoger AnisEmanuele Fantini€ 50 000
Netherlands, BelgiumLighthouse Reports | Université Libre de BruxellesBeatriz Ramalho da SilvaLarissa Bombardi€ 50 000
North MacedoniaSDK.MK Digital Newsroom | Hans Em – Faculty of Forest Sciences, Landscape Architecture and Environmental EngineeringGoran MihajlovskiKiril Sotirovski€ 50 000
PolandPravda Association | SmartNet Research & Solutions (Sotrender) & Warsaw UniversityJakub ŚliżPaweł Nowacki€ 50 000
PortugalFarol de Ideias | NOVA School of Science and TechnologyDaniel DeusdadoJoanaz de Melo€ 50 000
PortugalPúblico | Comprehensive Health Research Centre, NOVA Medical SchoolTeresa FirminoMaria da Conceição Calhau€ 50 000
PortugalExpresso | INESC TEC – Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and ScienceMicael PereiraNuno Guimarães€ 20 000
PortugalFumaça | ISPA – University Institute of Psychological, Social and Life SciencesMargarida David CardosoAndreia de Castro Rodrigues€ 20 000
RomaniaContext, Association of Investigative Journalists | The ”Elie Wiesel” National Institute for the Study of The Holocaust in RomaniaVenera DimulescuAdina Marincea€ 50 000
Romania, FinlandSnoop. Ro (Articolul 31) | Check First NetworkVictor IlieGuillaume Kuster€ 50 000
SerbiaBoom93 Ltd. | National Ecological Association (NEA)Marko TadićElizabet Paunovic€ 20 000
SloveniaStrašno hudi | National Institute of Biology (NIB)Maja ČakarićTina Eleršek€ 50 000
SpainNewtral Media Audiovisual | Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC), University of GranadaMarilín GonzaloFernando Blanco Bregón€ 20 000

The Journalism Science Alliance jury is assigned
The Journalism Science Alliance jury is assigned 2560 1707 journalismsciencealliance

The jury for the first call for grants from the Journalism Science Alliance has now been appointed. The panel brings together five juries who will evaluate and select the best proposals of the first round of grants for investigative journalism supported by science.

The jury members are:

  • Sanne Breimer, founder of Inclusive Journalism and a global media strategist, trainer, coach, and researcher;
  • Adam Bychawski, freelance investigative journalist who has received high commendations from judges at the UK Press Awards and the British Journalism Awards;
  • Miguel Castanho, full professor and head of the Biochemistry Department of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, Portugal;
  • Adriana Holova, freelance data journalist, with experience in data and investigative journalism, cross-border reporting and teaching mid-career and university students;
  • Daniela Ovadia, scientific director of Center for Ethics in Science and Journalism and co-director of the Neuroscience and Society Lab at University of Pavia, Italy.

The first call for applications closed on 4 August 2025 at 17:00 CEST and received 162 submissions.

Applications underwent a preliminary eligibility check by the European Journalism Centre and NOVA University. Eligible applications will now be reviewed by the jury. Each jury member will independently evaluate the proposals against the criteria for selection. All jury members will meet online to finalise the selection and decide on the awarded projects.

All grants will be awarded through a transparent and independent jury process, free from donor influence, and based on the merit of each proposal.

See more information about our jury here.

162 applications in first call for Journalism Science Alliance grants
162 applications in first call for Journalism Science Alliance grants 7952 5304 journalismsciencealliance

The first call for Journalism Science Alliance grants, which closed on 4 August, received 162 applications, more than double the total number of grants the programme will award over its two-year span.

There are applicants from 54 countries. Most of the lead applicants are from Portugal (17), Ukraine (16) and Germany (13). The majority of applications sought Tier 3 grants of €50,000.

5 top lead applicant’s countries
Portugal – 17
Ukraine – 16
Germany – 13
Italy – 12
Romania – 11

Submissions will now undergo validation and evaluation by the Journalism Science Alliance jury. The selected teams are expected to be announced in October 2025. After teams have been notified of the results, the agreements will be signed, and the first round of payments will follow.

The Journalism Science Alliance thanks all applicants for their submissions. For those who didn’t apply for this round, the next call for applications opens in early 2026.

Over the course of two years, starting in April 2025, the Journalism Science Alliance will fund up to 75 grants for investigative journalism projects that explore the powerful intersection of watchdog journalism and scientific expertise. The goal is to support impactful, high-quality journalism that informs and empowers the public across Europe.

Read more about the Journalism Science Alliance grants here.

Open call for applications for journalist-scientist teams grants
Open call for applications for journalist-scientist teams grants 2560 1707 journalismsciencealliance

The Journalism Science Alliance, a programme co-funded by the European Union, opens today the first call for grants for journalist-scientist teams across Europe. One million euros will be delivered in funding to produce investigative journalism backed by science co-created by journalists and scientists.

These grants, with the duration of eight months, will support collaborations between journalists and scientists to produce high-quality investigative journalism stories with local, regional and transnational impact, grounded in scientific evidence and focused on topics of public interest, such as climate change, healthcare, emerging technologies, or local governance.

Applications will remain open until the 4 August 2025, at 17:00 CEST.

The Journalism Science Alliance encourages submissions from journalists and media outlets from all formats – print, broadcast, digital, multimedia, and documentary –, scientists, academia, research institutions, freelancers, and NGOs engaged in journalism or academic/scientific research.

Each team must include at least one media outlet (the lead applicant must be a journalist) and one research or academic institution (co-lead).

In addition to funding, selected teams will receive mentorship, access to training sessions, and opportunities to participate in networking events with other grantees.

Applications must be submitted in English through the European Journalism Center Platform.

For more information, visit the JSA Grants page.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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