InnoNext - Next Generation Innovation Talents' Initiative

The InnoNext initiative is part of the European Innovation Council's program aimed at facilitating collaboration between academic researchers and startups or SMEs through fully funded internships. Eligible applicants are primarily researchers from the European Research Council and EIC Pathfinder programs, including PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, as well as universities and research institutes.

The funding provided is classified as a grant and consists of mobility allowances and internship reimbursements. Eligible researchers can receive up to €6,900 for EIC Pathfinder Talents and up to €15,900 for ERC Talents, covering a maximum of 3 months of support, though internships can last up to 6 months without further reimbursement. The geographic scope of the initiative is EU-wide, with applicants required to undertake internships at least 150 km away from their regular workplace.

Applicants are not required to form a consortium; the program allows individual applications. The focus of the initiative is on deep-tech sectors, including ICT, biotechnology, medtech, and cleantech, among others.

The application process is an open call, with a single-stage approach involving eligibility checks, matchmaking between researchers and hosting companies, and finalization of financial agreements. The application window opens on March 17, 2025, and closes on July 31, 2026.

The InnoNext initiative aims to promote knowledge exchange and innovation development by connecting researchers with practical experiences, ultimately reducing the financial burden on hosting organizations. Support is provided through monetary means, and there is no requirement for co-funding. Success rates are unspecified, hinting at competitive guidelines influenced by budget availability.

Interested applicants are encouraged to act promptly, as funding is dependent on resource availability, with disbursements continuing until resources are exhausted.

The InnoNext initiative is offering financial support to third parties (FSTP) to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between European academic talents, aspiring innovators, and startups through fully funded innovation internships. This initiative targets researchers from the ERC (European Research Council) and EIC (European Innovation Council) Pathfinder programs.

The InnoNext Financial Support provides two forms of financial assistance:

1. For EIC Pathfinder Talents: A flat monthly rate mobility allowance of EUR 2,300 for a maximum of 3 months, totaling EUR 6,900. This mobility allowance is specifically for EIC Pathfinder Talents working at a location at least 150 km away from their usual workplace.

2. For ERC Talents: A flat monthly rate reimbursement is available. ERC Postdoctoral researchers can receive EUR 5,300 per month for a maximum of 3 months, totaling EUR 15,900. ERC PhD students can receive EUR 4,300 per month for a maximum of 3 months, totaling EUR 12,900.

The total funding available is EUR 15,900.00. The funding covers a maximum of 3 months, even if the placement lasts longer, although internships may be extended up to 6 months without additional reimbursement.

The InnoNext process involves the following steps:

1. Eligibility Check: The InnoNext Consortium verifies the applicant's eligibility based on a Declaration of Honor (DoH). This document confirms the Talent's affiliation with the ERC or EIC Pathfinder programs and their current workplace location, ensuring compliance with the 150 km distance criterion. The consortium conducts random checks to verify the accuracy of the statements in the DoH.

2. Matchmaking and Selection: Talents and Hosting Companies (HC) meet to discuss specific internship positions. The InnoNext Consortium supervises the selection and matching finalization process.

3. Admission to Financial Support: This involves the internship reimbursement for ERC Talents and the mobility allowance for EIC Pathfinder Talents.

Financial Agreements & Contracts:

The InnoNext consortium Financial Agreement includes two types of documents:

The ERC Financial Agreement (Internship Reimbursement)

The EIC Pathfinder Financial Agreement (Mobility Allowance)

This agreement includes:

Identification of the contracting parties

The eligibility procedure and criteria for granting the FSTP

The type of financial support granted (internship reimbursement for ERC or mobility allowance for EIC Pathfinder)

The conditions and deadlines for financial disbursement

Obligations of Talents Receiving Financial Support:

Talents benefiting from financial support must comply with the obligations defined under the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement, specifically:

Article 12: Conflict of Interest

Article 13: Confidentiality and Security

Article 14: Ethics

Article 17.2: Visibility

Article 18: Specific Rules for Carrying Out Actions

Article 19: Information Obligations

Article 20: Record-Keeping

Support & Resources:

Beneficiaries receive assistance at every stage of the process through:

Easily accessible resources

Support by the InnoNext team responsible for submitting the application

Detailed guides available on the InnoNext website

Templates for ERC and EIC Pathfinder agreements are available in the Resources section of the InnoNext website. The FAQ section provides detailed information on how to apply for the internship and the FSTP financial benefit for both ERC and EIC Pathfinder Talents. For any information related to the FSTP, contact administration@innonext-project.eu.

The InnoNext FSTP mechanism is exclusively for talent from the ERC and EIC Pathfinder programs. The amounts are subject to InnoNext's provisions and will be disbursed until the available resources are exhausted.

Key Details:

Project Acronym: InnoNext

Full Name of the EU Funded Project: The Next Generation Innovation Talents' initiative

Grant Agreement Number: 101160467

Topic: HORIZON-EIC-2023-TALENTS-01-01 - Next Generation Innovation Talents

Opening Date: 17 March 2025

Deadline: 31 July 2026, 23:59 (Brussels time)

Deadline Model: Single-stage

The InnoNext initiative, under the Horizon Europe program, aims to foster innovation by providing financial support to researchers from ERC and EIC Pathfinder projects for internships in companies. This support comes in two forms: a mobility allowance for EIC Pathfinder researchers and an internship reimbursement for ERC researchers. The process involves an eligibility check, matchmaking with a hosting company, and subsequent financial support based on predefined rates. The initiative is designed to facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration between academia and industry, ultimately boosting innovation across Europe. The funding is limited and will be distributed until resources are depleted, so interested and eligible researchers should apply promptly.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are researchers from the ERC (European Research Council) and EIC (European Innovation Council) Pathfinder programmes, specifically PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers. The program targets "talents," "aspiring innovators," and "startups." Hosting Companies (HC) are also involved, but they are not the direct recipients of the financial support.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP). This support is provided as a mobility allowance or internship reimbursement.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is designed for individual applicants (researchers/talents) who will be hosted by a company. While the InnoNext Consortium manages the program, individual researchers apply for the financial support to undertake internships at Hosting Companies. Therefore, it is not a consortium application in the traditional sense, but rather a single applicant (talent) applying to be matched with a hosting company.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is implied to be within the EU, as the program is funded by the EU Horizon Europe program and targets European academic talents. The mobility allowance suggests that cross-border movement within the EU is supported. The text mentions Brussels time for the deadline, further implying a focus on the European region.

Target Sector: The program targets multiple sectors through its support for innovation internships. It aims to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration between academia and startups, so it is not limited to a single sector. The ERC and EIC Pathfinder programmes fund a wide range of research and innovation projects, so the target sectors are broad and could include health, energy, environment, ICT, space, manufacturing, or any other sector relevant to the Horizon Europe program. The focus is on supporting next-generation innovation talents, which suggests a leaning towards DeepTech and innovative fields.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are explicitly mentioned. The focus is on European academic talents and the EU framework (Horizon Europe, ERC, EIC). Therefore, the relevant region is the EU.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development and validation through internships. The program supports researchers in applying their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting, bridging the gap between research and commercialization. The internships provide an opportunity to validate research findings and develop innovative solutions.

Funding Amount: The funding range is variable, depending on the applicant's status (EIC Pathfinder, ERC Postdoctoral, ERC PhD student) and the duration of the internship (up to 3 months). The maximum amounts to be granted are EUR 6,900 for EIC Pathfinder Talents and EUR 15,900 for ERC Talents. The monthly rates are:
EIC Pathfinders: € 2,300 per month (max € 6,900 total)
ERC Postdoctoral: € 5,300 per month (max € 15,900 total)
ERC PhD students: € 4,300 per month (max € 12,900 total)

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Call for application for InnoNext Financial Support" and the specified opening and deadline dates. The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries receive money in the form of a mobility allowance or internship reimbursement. They also receive non-monetary services, such as assistance with the application process, matchmaking with Hosting Companies, and access to resources and guides.

Application Stages: The application process involves three main stages:
1. Eligibility check by the InnoNext Consortium.
2. Matchmaking and selection phases, where the Talent and Hosting Company meet.
3. Admission to the Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, the text states that the amounts are subject to InnoNext's provisions and will be disbursed until the available resources are exhausted, which suggests that the success rate will depend on the number of applications and the available budget. The success rate is therefore variable and depends on the competition.

Co-funding Requirement: There is no explicit mention of a co-funding requirement. The program provides fully funded innovation internships, suggesting that the financial support covers the eligible costs without requiring additional funding from the applicant or the Hosting Company.

Summary:

The InnoNext initiative provides financial support to researchers from the ERC and EIC Pathfinder programmes to undertake innovation internships at Hosting Companies. This initiative aims to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between top European academic talents, aspiring innovators, and startups. The financial support is provided as a mobility allowance or internship reimbursement, with maximum amounts of EUR 6,900 for EIC Pathfinder Talents and EUR 15,900 for ERC Talents. The application process involves an eligibility check, matchmaking with a Hosting Company, and admission to the Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP). The program supports internships lasting up to 6 months, with funding covering a maximum of 3 months. The InnoNext Consortium manages the program and provides assistance to applicants throughout the process. The opportunity is targeted at PhD students and Postdoctoral researchers affiliated with ERC and EIC Pathfinder projects, offering them a chance to gain practical experience and contribute to innovation in a real-world setting. The opening date for submissions is March 17, 2025, and the deadline is July 31, 2026. The total funding available is 15,900 EUR. The initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program and aims to foster the next generation of innovation talents.