Matching people's potential
Promoted by EIC and EIT InnoNext concretises multidisciplinary collaboration among qualified researchers, start-ups and SME through “Innovation internships”.
Discover who can apply
InnoNext Journey Continues
InnoNext has been extended for an additional 12 months, until 31 July 2027. The programme will continue supporting the activation of new Innovation Internships until May 2027. New categories of Visiting Talents and Hosting Companies are now eligible to join the initiative.
Join our Info Session
Learn how to participate in our innovation program: explore opportunities and get your questions answered.
July 20th 2026 - 3 PM CET
Webinar: How to get onboard on InnoNext
Session for Visiting Talents and Hosting Companies
Who is this for?
• European qualified start-ups and companies
• European qualified researchers and innovators
What to get?
A fully funded scientific collaboration within the European research ecosystem.
How to join?
Apply to InnoNext and
• promote your competencies
• create opportunities to collaborate
Applications are now open!
Who Can Apply?
Visiting Talents
Are you a researcher driven to transform cutting-edge ideas into real-world solutions? InnoNext initiative addresses researchers and innovators working at the frontiers of scientific and deep-tech R&D, ready to move breakthrough technologies from lab to market.
Apply to InnoNext if you are:
- EIC Pathfinder PhD candidates
- EIC Pathfinder Postdoctoral researchers
- EIC Transition researchers
- EIC Pathfinder & Transition assistant professors or researchers with several years of professional or postdoctoral experience, up to tenure track positions (probationary period) new
- EIC Alumni Talents who have previously participated in projects funded by eligible EU programmes from all the categories listed above new
- Students or graduates from EIT Label Master’s or Doctoral programmes
- EIT Alumni members
- Researchers from other postdoctoral training programmes funded by the EIT Community
- Other KICs education programmes
While new internship activations for EIT Talents are temporarily on hold, we are exploring possibilities for future funding opportunities.
For EIT Talents: Applications for new internships are not being accepted at this time. We encourage you to stay tuned for upcoming opportunities by signing up to InnoNext to receive updates and notifications about new funding opportunities and announcements from EIT.
For Hosting Companies: New EIT Talents internship activations are temporarily paused.
The program continues normally for all other talent categories (ERC, EIC Pathfinder, MSCA, RI) and for all hosting companies, including those from the ElT community.
- PhD and/or postdoctoral researchers participating in projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC)
- ERC assistant professors or researchers with several years of professional or postdoctoral experience, up to tenure track positions (probationary period) new
- ERC Alumni Talents who have previously participated in projects funded by eligible EU programmes from all the categories listed above new
- Fellows participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Fellows participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks
- Fellows participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND
- MSCA assistant professors or researchers with several years of professional or postdoctoral experience, up to tenure track positions (probationary period) new
- MSCA Alumni Talents who have previously participated in projects funded by eligible EU programmes from all the categories listed above new
- PHD and/or postdoctoral researcher participating as a consortium member in a project funded by the Research Infrastructures part of Horizon Europe
- RI assistant professors or researchers with several years of professional or postdoctoral experience, up to tenure track positions (probationary period) new
- RI Alumni Talents who have previously participated in projects funded by eligible EU programmes from all the categories listed above new
Hosting Companies
Are you an innovative start-up or SME willing to access new ideas and insights from the cutting edge of research and accelerate the development of your solutions? InnoNext initiative connects start-ups with researchers at the forefront of scientific and deep-tech R&D.
Apply to InnoNext if your company is:
- Start-ups and SMEs supported by the EIC Accelerator (including H2020 SME instrument)
- EIC awarded Seal of Excellence companies
- Start-ups and SMEs supported by EIC Transition
- Start-ups and SMEs supported by EIC Pathfinder
- SMEs and Seal of Excellence holders who applied to the EIC UA tech innovators call and EIC Pre-Accelerator call new
- EIC Alumni Companies previously received support under eligible EU programmes from all the categories listed above new
- Start-ups and SMEs supported by the EIT Community and its business creation services
- Businesses founded with support from Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)
- Companies that have partnered with KICs for innovation activities
- Start-ups or scale-ups with at least one co-founder who is an EIT Alumni member
- Start-ups and SMEs supported by MSCA
- MSCA Alumni Companies previously received support under eligible EU programmes from all the categories listed above new
Success Stories
Business Development and Market Analyst
«The onboarding was fast and efficient, with a clear step-by-step guide. I felt supported at every stage. The team was responsive and clearly experienced in managing complex, multi-stakeholder processes»
EIT Innoenergy
Go-To-Market & Marketing Strategy Associate - Agrifood Sector
«The process went very professionally and efficiently, and the support from InnoNext was second to none once CinSOIL and I found an agreement on the vision and the way forward.»
EIT Alumnus, EIT Food Innovator Fellowships
Berlin, Germany
«The onboarding was fast and efficient, with a clear step-by-step guide. I felt supported at every stage. The team was responsive and clearly experienced in managing complex, multi-stakeholder processes»
COO and Co-Founder CinSOIL GmbH
Berlin, Germany
Wind Turbine blade Aeroelastic Load Analysis in operating conditions
«InnoNext has been a great bridge between my academic journey and the professional world.»
EIT Innoenergy
Marketing & Communications Intern
«The InnoNext platform has been incredibly valuable in connecting me with a forward-thinking start-up, CinSOIL, which perfectly aligns with my passion for sustainability.»
EIT Food
Innovation & Business Development Internship – Strategic Investment Focus (Hydros Power)
«Thanks to the platform’s matchmaking system, I quickly connected with a company aligned with my goals. Now I’m ready to make real impact in the energy sector and beyond.»
EIT Innoenergy
Go-To-Market & Marketing Strategy Associate - Agrifood Sector
«Thanks to InnoNext, I found a company that reflects what I want to contribute to in the world.»
EIT Food
Marketing - Website & External communication for pharma GenAI company
«I discovered a company that not only fits my profile but shares my purpose.»
EIT Food
Business Operations & Strategy
«The platform helped me find a company that aligns with my goals. I’m now contributing to something that really matters.»
EIT InnoEnergy
«We had the opportunity to connect with candidates truly aligned with our project goals. The process was seamless, the communication fast, and the platform intuitive.»
Chief Executive Officer Recycllux
