Platform of Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science (PLACES) is a four year (2010-2014) EU-funded project to define, develop and promote the European City of Scientific Culture. The main goal of PLACES is to offer to a wide and diverse community of actors a common platform to structure their science communication activities, at a city and regional level. The PLACES project aims to contribute to the creation of instruments that would allow the study of the impact of initiatives and policies related to science communication and, thus, help Europe expand its use of science for tackling fundamental socioeconomic issues.