‘Next Generation Innovation Talents’ Scheme

Objectives

• At the same time, this scheme aims to provide innovative start-ups with access to new ideas and insights from the cutting edge of research, thus accelerating the development of their breakthrough products and services.
• The scheme will allow eligible researchers to carry out an innovation internship in a hosting company, and will be open to:
  • As hosting companies: start-ups and SMEs supported by the EIC Accelerator (including H2020 SME instrument), EIC awarded Seal of Excellence companies, SMEs/start-ups in EIC Transition; as well as start-ups/SMEs supported by EIT-KIC innovation and business creation services, including those created as a result of receiving support from KICs; the startups/scaleups that have been created out of KICs Innovation activities; the startups/scaleups/SMEs that have been partners of KICs for Innovation activities; the startups/scaleups that have at least one co-founder who is an EIT Alumni member.
  • As researchers eligible for internships: PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers participating in: projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC); the EIC Pathfinder; the Marie SklodowskaSkłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowships, doctoral networks and COFUND programmes; the Research Infrastructures part of Horizon Europe, and relevant students in (and graduates from) EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programmes, EIT Alumni and EIT Jumpstarter beneficiaries and participants from other postdoctoral training programmes supported by the EIT KICs.
• Additional partner programmes, including international partner programmes, may be included in eligibility for the internship in agreement between the Commission, the beneficiary of this call and the partner programme.
• The winner of this call can be a single legal entity or a consortium of legal entities. The scheme will be implemented by the beneficiary in close cooperation with each of the original funding schemes (partner programmes) of the researchers (MSCA, EIT, ERC, EIC Pathfinder, the Research Infrastructure part of Horizon Europe). The costs of the internships will be covered by the partner programmes (with exception of ERC), in line with their work programmes. The hosting companies will not provide any direct payment to the interns. It is expected that approximately 600 innovation internships will be supported under this action, of approximately three to six months each, over a two-year period.

Scope

• The Scheme has two main streams:
  • Deep tech talents: Internship duration of 3 to 6 months open to PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers currently working for ERC, EIC Pathfinder, MSCA, EIT and Research Infrastructure actions. These internships will be dedicated to highly specialised work on specific project or assistance to a senior executive (CEO, CTO, CSO) as requested by the hosting company.
  • Aspiring innovators: Internship duration of up to 6 months open to relevant students in (and graduates from) EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programmes, EIT Alumni, EIT Jumpstarter beneficiaries. These internships are for less specialist work experience in the host organisation.
• The actions under this call should include as minimum the following key tasks:
  • Support to the preparation and implementation of call(s) for expression(s) of interest to eligible researchers/research organisations and eligible companies in coordination with the EU partner programmes;
  • Creation of a matchmaking IT platform between interested researchers (candidate interns) and companies;
  • Provision of guidance and support for candidate interns and companies;
  • Handling of agreements with the research institutes and the companies, including standard agreements on intellectual property, conditions of work etc.;
  • Follow up on any practical issues related to the internships;
  • Organisation of information and dissemination campaigns;
  • When relevant, organisation of financial support to internships to cover additional costs of interns (financial support to third parties, see below);
  • Regular reporting back to each respective EU funding programme, companies and interns;
  • Provision of feedback on the effectiveness and impact of scheme (e.g. through surveys, focus groups).

Funding Information

• The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
  • public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
  • cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (low value grant).

Expected Impact

• Support to at least 600 internships (deep tech talents and aspiring innovators) over the duration of the action. The final number of participants per programme may vary based on demand but assuming high demand from all partner programmes, there should be a minimum of 150 researchers from EIC Pathfinder actions;
• Increased awareness and knowledge of researchers about potential career paths in startup companies or for creating their own companies;
• Improved access to research talent by EIC and EIT supported startups and SMEs;
• Increased visibility of the scheme, highlighting the role, funding instruments and opportunities provided by EIC and other EU partner programmes;
• High quality assessment of the impact of the scheme, including feedback from internees and host companies, and recommendations for further development of the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entities Eligible to Participate
  • Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
• To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  • Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
    • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
  • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
    • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
  • countries associated to Horizon Europe:
    • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.
• Specific cases
  • Affiliated entities — Affiliated entities are eligible for funding if they are established in one of the countries listed above, or in a country identified in the specific call conditions.
  • Associated partners — Entities not eligible for funding (and therefore not able to participate as beneficiaries) may participate as associated partners, unless specified otherwise in the specific call conditions.
  • Coordination and Support Actions – To be eligible to participate as beneficiaries (or affiliated entities) in ‘Coordination and support’ actions, legal entities must be established in a Member State or Associated Country, unless the specific call conditions provide otherwise.
  • EU bodies — Legal entities created under EU law may also be eligible to receive funding, unless their basic act states otherwise.
  • International organisations — International European research organisations are eligible to receive funding. Unless their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority, other international organisations are not eligible to receive funding.

For more information, visit EC.