What is InnoNext?
InnoNext is a flagship initiative of the European Innovation Council (EIC), designed to foster collaboration between Europe’s top academic talents and innovative startups and SMEs. By leveraging fully funded internships, we bridge the gap between research and enterprise, driving impactful innovation and strengthening the European innovation ecosystem.
We go beyond traditional internship programmes by applying a human-centered approach and focusing on tailored matches that align with the specific needs of companies and talents, providing a platform that connects deep-tech talents and aspiring innovators with entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs collaborating through Innovation Internships.
We support innovators like you with two main streams of action:
- Deep Tech Talents - Research-Focused Internships: Talents collaborate on cutting-edge projects, addressing technological challenges and advancing research applications in the European entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Aspiring Innovators - Entrepreneurship-focused Internships: Innovators gain hands-on business experience and entrepreneurial skills while contributing to real-world solutions.
Internships last between 3 and 6 months and are fully funded by the respective EU programmes or InnoNext, ensuring no financial burden for hosting companies.
For more information, visit the InnoNext website.
Our objectives
- Increase competitiveness: Provide innovative startups and SMEs with access to cutting-edge research ideas and insights, thus accelerating the development of innovative products and services.
- Encourage entrepreneurship: Develop an entrepreneurial mindset by enabling researchers and aspiring innovators to gain practical experience and understanding of the processes needed to take research ideas to the next level.
- Facilitate knowledge transfer: Mobilise individuals with specific skills, knowledge and abilities developed in EU excellence programmes within innovative startups and SMEs.
- Promote equal opportunities: Improved and equal access to research talent: Innovative startups and SMEs supported by EU-funded programmes will have better access to research talent, which could lead to more innovative products and services.
How does InnoNext work?
- Registration: Companies and talents create profiles on the InnoNext platform, outlining their needs and expertise.
- Matchmaking: Using AI-driven tools, InnoNext identifies the best matches between companies and talents based on project requirements and skillsets.
- Collaboration: Matched pairs engage in fully-funded internships, working together on projects designed to deliver tangible results.
- Mentorship and Support: The program provides ongoing guidance, legal resources, and mentorship to ensure a successful collaboration.
Who can participate?
InnoNext is open to:
Hosting Companies:
- Start-ups and SMEs supported by the EIC Accelerator (including H2020 SME instrument)
- EIC awarded Seal of Excellence companies
- SMEs/start-ups supported by EIC Transition
- Start-ups/SMEs supported by EIT-KIC innovation and business creation services
- Start-ups/SMEs created as a result of receiving support from KICs
- 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
Talents:
- EIC Pathfinder postdoctoral fellowship
- PhD and/or postdoctoral researchers participating in projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC)
- Fellows participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Fellows participating Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks
- Fellows participating Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND
- PHD and/or postdoctoral researcher participating as a consortium member in a project funded by the Research Infrastructures part of Horizon Europe
- Students in (and graduates from) EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programmes
- EIT Alumni member
- EIT Jumpstarter beneficiaries
- Participants from other postdoctoral training programmes supported by the EIT KICs.
Open calls
- For Companies: The open call for startups and SMEs will open on December 4, 2024. Businesses can start preparing to register and define their internship opportunities.
- For Talents: The Open Call for researchers and innovators will open on December 13, 2024. Interested participants are encouraged to explore their eligibility and prepare their profiles.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please contact us through the EIC Community’s contact page selecting the category 'InnoNext', or visit the InnoNext website.