InnoNext FAQ

You’re eligible to become a Vising talent if you are a:

• EIC Pathfinder PhD candidate
• EIC Pathfinder Postdoctoral researcher
• EIC Transition researcher
• Student in (and graduate from) EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programmes
• EIT Alumni member
• Participant from other postdoctoral training programmes supported by the EIT Community
• Participant from other KICs education programmes
• PhD and/or postdoctoral researcher participating in projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC)
• Fellow participating in Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks
• Fellow participating Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellow
• Fellow participating Marie Sklodowska-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
• Student in (and graduate from) EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programmes
• EIT Alumni member
• Participant from other postdoctoral training programmes supported by the EIT Community

To be eligible for InnoNext, you only need to belong to one of the categories listed above, regardless of your educational background and residence. If you fall into one of the listed categories, you can apply for InnoNext. There are no restrictions regarding the field of research. Talents and Companies from different domains are warmly invited to participate.

Regardless of your educational background and residence, if you fall under one of the listed eligibility criteria (FAQ 1.1. and homepage) you can apply for InnoNext.

InnoNext offers innovation internships from 2 different streams:

1) DEEP TECH TALENTS, research-focused internships offering hands-on experience with advanced projects, where interns work closely with the Hosting company to address complex technical challenges. This stream is open to PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers currently involved in ERC, EIC Pathfinder, EIT, EU Research infrastructures actions, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, MSCA Doctoral Networks and MSCA COFUND projects. The internship duration can be from 3 to 6 months

2) ASPIRING INNOVATORS,entrepreneurship-focused internships where aspiring innovators develop business attitudes and competencies through expert mentoring while gaining practical insights into innovative companies. This opportunity is open to students and graduates from EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programs, EIT Alumni. The internship can last up to 6 months.

The Hosting Company will specify the exact duration in the internship vacancy description. 

The InnoNext application process consists of two steps: first, register to InnoNext via the online form and provide the information essential to confirm your eligibility. Once registered, you can apply for the internship opportunities you are interested in.

The initial minimum set of information required at the registration includes:   

• Details concerning the EU funding programme you are/were associated with 
• The project name and/ or ID (i.e. the Grant agreement number)  
• Your ORCID.  
• Your CV,  
• And the privacy policy agreement, as part of the application process.  
• If you come from a programme related to EIT you will also have to upload a Certificate or Engagement Letter. (See FAQ section “Talents from EIT”).  

Afterwards, you will receive an email confirming your registration to the InnoNext initiative and the link to set up the credentials to enter the matchmaking platform, where you can consult and apply to specific internship opportunities.  

There are two ways to apply.

• The Opportunities page on this site showcases all the offers published by companies willing to host talents. From the page of each opportunity, you can click Apply; after that, you will be redirected to the matchmaking platform and automatically registered for the selected one.
• Another option allows you to view opportunities ranked by the matchmaking system, starting with those most suitable for you. To access the sorted list, sign into the matchmaking platform by clicking the Sign-in button on the InnoNext website and entering your credentials. Once inside the platform, navigate to the Vacancy section to explore the best opportunities tailored for you and apply to those you find more interesting by clicking the button Apply.

In both situations, you will receive a confirmation email and be asked to finalise your application by uploading the Declaration of Honour (DoH) for that specific vacancy.

Remember, you must upload a DoH for each vacancy you apply for.

What is a Declaration of Honour? See FAQ n. 2.2.

When completing the online registration form, you'll need to provide details regarding the EU funding programme to which you are associated.

If you come from a programme related to EIT, you will also have to upload a Certificate or Engagement Letter. (See FAQ section 9 “Talents from EIT”).

Your eligibility is bound by the Declaration of Honour, the document that must be signed to activate the internship (See FAQ 2.2). The validity of the documents will be verified before the internship's activation.

You can find the template of the Declaration of Honour in the Resources section.

If you’re affiliated with EIC, ERC, MSCA, or RI, the authorisation of your PI/Project Coordinator/employer to the internship is required.

To help you obtain authorisation, the InnoNext website provides comprehensive information about the initiative, including details on the European Partner Programmes, eligibility criteria, and economic conditions. For any specific Innovation internship, you can find details about goals, activities, duration, and additional information in the posted internship opportunity. Moreover, you can download and share the Letter of Commitment (LoC). This document, signed by every company aspiring to host a Visiting Talent, outlines the terms and conditions of their participation in InnoNext, ensuring transparency and alignment with the initiative's goals (See FAQ n.2.3). Once you’ve found the company hosting your internship, you must sign the Declaration of Honour to activate the procedure. To expedite the process, we suggest that you share information about this initiative, the company, and the internship offered with your PI/Project Coordinator/employer and sign this document as early in the application process as possible.

The templates of the Letter of Commitment and the Declaration of Honour are available in the Resources section.

Yes, you can apply to every Innovation internship opportunity that fits you. 

To apply for an Innovation internship, your funding project must cover the entire duration. Therefore, please consider the end date of your fellowship and verify that the starting date and duration align with it. 

InnoNext promotes an open call lasting 18 months, during which both companies and talents can apply to find their best matches and start an Innovation internship.  

Thus, new internship opportunities are added regularly.  

You can explore the available opportunities and check for suggestions that the matchmaking platform suggests to you.

The ORCID is a unique identifier that connects you to your academic and professional activities, making it easier for others to recognise your work. Registering is quick and free—simply visit the ORCID website (https://orcid.org), provide your name and email, create a secure password, and set your account visibility preferences. Once you verify your email address, your ORCID profile will be ready to use, allowing you to add information such as publications, achievements, and affiliations.

InnoNext implements an enduring open call until July 2026. In this period both companies and talents can register to InnoNext at any time to find their ideal match and begin an Innovation internship. That means that companies can publish new opportunities at any time and you can search for the right one to apply at any time. 

If you are a participant from an EIT programme, please note that your internship must be finalised by December 2025.

Please, bear in mind that:

• To apply for an Innovation internship as a Talent, your funding project must cover the entire duration. Therefore, please consider the end date of your fellowship and verify that the starting date and duration align with it.
• Companies can also register at any time and the internship period must be agreed upon with them. It is possible that some companies need to conclude the internship before the end of the project. We suggest you check whether specific periods are indicated in the internship description.

Once the selection process is done, both the Hosting company and the Visiting talent must sign the Internship Agreement: Annexe 2 of the Letter of Commitment (see FAQ n. 2.3). This document defines the agreements between the interested parties, including the description of the internship, the duties to be performed, the duration, hours and working arrangements, protection of intellectual property and confidentiality. 

The Agreement Template is a private document that can be customised by the Hosting Company and the Visiting Talent, except for the core articles describing the implementation of the InnoNext. Further amendments are allowed only if strictly necessary to comply with mandatory rules of applicable laws.

The template of the Letter of Commitment is available in the Resources section. 

** Visiting talents coming from the  EIC Pathfinder, EIT and ERC will also have to sign the financial agreement.  See the dedicated FAQ section (11).

Find more information in the FAQ section dedicated to your specific EU Programme. 

The Declaration of Honour (DoH) is the document that confirms that you are eligible to participate in InnoNext, and it must be signed to activate the internship.

There are two versions of the DOH, one is only for talents affiliated with EIT, and one is for all the other participants. Both include statements that declare that: You are not receiving double remuneration for being involved both in a previous research initiative funded by the European Union and for participating in the InnoNext initiative. You agree to the general requirements included in the InnoNext GA, as set by the European Union, for participation in the InnoNext initiative.

The DOH for talents affiliated with EIC Pathfinder, ERC, MSCA, RI, also includes the declaration that you have informed and obtained the permission to participate from your PI/project coordinator/employer. Therefore, we recommend that you inform your PI/project coordinator/employer at an early stage of the application process. This way, you will be sure to get authorisation and can sign the DOH as soon as possible. This will speed up the internship activation process. 

The template of the Declaration of Honor is available in the Resources section

Once signed, you can upload it by entering the matchmaking platform, in the Profile section. 

The Letter of Commitment (LoC) is the document that the Hosting company must sign to acknowledge, accept, and join the InnoNext initiative. It regulates the general conditions of participation, including the description of the internship, the terms and obligations and the applicable laws and jurisdiction. This document, containing all the administrative details, confirms that the Hosting company is eligible for InnoNext. By signing, companies confirm their understanding of the Annexes, which contain essential articles and content. While the Annexes can be adapted to different legal frameworks, they must retain the mandatory minimum content. 

The template of the Letter of Commitment is available in the Resources section

In summary, the Internship Agreement specifies that any background knowledge shared during the internship remains the original owner's property. The property of new outputs created during the internship will belong to the Hosting Company.  

The template of the Letter of Commitment is available in the Resources section. 

If you are associated with the MSCA programme, please refer to the FAS section 7.

The internship funding depends on the programme the Talent is affiliated with:

• EIC Pathfinder researchers will be funded within the Pathfinder grant and they will receive from InnoNext an additional mobility allowance for a maximum period of 3 months if the internship’s location is farther than 150km from the current researcher’s place of work.
• Researchers from ERC-funded projects and from EIT affiliated programmes will receive a flat monthly reimbursement by InnoNext for a maximum period of 3 months for ERC and 6 months for EIT.
• For the researchers funded by MSCA, HE Research Infrastructure, the respective funding Programme will cover the internship. Therefore, the payment will depend on the grant agreements.

For the exact amount of funding and details on how to obtain it, please consult the FAQ section on your programme.

The Hosting company is not required to provide any direct payment to the visiting talents. Talents who will receive the reimbursement from InnoNext will sign a specific financial agreement directly provided by InnoNext. (see the dedicated FAQ section: section 11)

Note that the InnoNext reimbursement for talents will last a maximum of 3 or 6 months, according to the programme. In case the internship lasts longer, no additional funding will be provided by this action. 

The duration can be from 3 to 6 months The company can indicate the exact duration of the internship in the description or agree upon it during the interview.

• Your funding project must cover the entire duration of the internship; therefore, consider the end date of your fellowship and verify that the starting date and duration align with it.
• InnoNext reimbursement for talents will last a maximum of 3 months for ERC and EIC Pathfinder and maximum 6 months for EIT talents; in case the internship may last longer, no additional funding will be provided by this action.

The Hosting company can specify the required or possible conditions in the internship offer. You can ask, discuss, and agree on whether the internship will be remote, hybrid, or on-site during the interview. 

InnoNext facilitates the matchmaking between Hosting companies and Visiting talents through a hybrid process. facilitated by a matchmaking platform where data (both inputs and outputs) are automatically analysed and manually supervised. To enable the identification of the best candidate, an artificial intelligence-based matchmaking system is integrated into the platform, which analyses the talent's application and CV/ORCID and the internship description, offering the company the possibility of displaying candidates sorted according to the affinity identified by the algorithm. It is important to note that Companies have access to the full list of applications. They will review the profiles and directly contact the candidates they wish to interview. The algorithm does not hide any candidates and does not make decisions on behalf of the company. The algorithm only provides the sorted list, complete with all applications, in which the company can analyse profiles and identify the candidates it wishes to interview. Subsequently, the company takes control of the selection, exploring the data and autonomously deciding the candidates to contact for an interview. The final decision rests entirely with the company and talents, which operate in complete autonomy.

The selection of the candidate is entrusted to the company that published the opportunities. All candidates who have decided to apply for a specific innovation internship will be visible to the company that published it. To facilitate the identification of the best candidate, an artificial intelligence-based matchmaking system is integrated into the platform, which analyses the talent's application and CV and the position description, offering the company the possibility of displaying candidates sorted according to the affinity identified by the algorithm.

It is important to note that the algorithm does not hide any candidates and does not make decisions on behalf of the company. All those who applied will be visible to the company, the algorithm only provides the sorted list, complete with all applications, in which the company can analyse profiles and identify the candidates it wishes to interview.

The Hosting company directly contacts the selected candidates to schedule interviews. During this, you will have the opportunity to explore the internship opportunity in detail and discuss all relevant aspects with the candidate.

InnoNext offers a dedicated matchmaking platform designed for both Hosting companies and Visiting talents to manage their profiles, applications, and the entire process seamlessly. Once you’ve submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email for your company's registration. This email will include a link to set up your credentials for accessing the matchmaking platform.

After setting up your credentials, you can log in directly from the InnoNext website by clicking Sign-in. You’ll then be redirected to the matchmaking platform.  

After the interview, if you accept the internship offer, the company will have to notify InnoNext of your choice by accessing the platform and changing the status of your application to “Selected”. At this point, InnoNext will send the company the LoC, including Annex 2, which both the company and you must sign before returning it to InnoNext. You will also have to sign the DOH and, if applicable, the Financial Agreement. Once you’ve sent them to InnoNext and validated, the collaboration can begin.

At the beginning and end of the internship, you will also be required to self-assess your entrepreneurial skills and complete the experience evaluation questionnaire.

The InnoNext beneficiaries’ feedback is crucial to continuously improving InnoNext for future participants.  During the entire process, short surveys will be proposed to assess various aspects, such as matchmaking, the quality of mentoring, and the internship. Finally, a comprehensive survey will collect your overall experience. Your insights are invaluable for enhancing the InnoNext program and ensuring a positive experience for future participants. 

If you’re a postdoctoral fellow in the EIC Pathfinder program, you’re eligible! Just make sure to submit a Declaration of Honor signed by your Project Coordinator/Principal Investigator/Activity Leader when applying on the matchmaking platform.

What is a Declaration of honor? See the FAQ n. 2.2 to discover more and find the template of the Declaration of Honor in the Resource section.

Also, double-check that your internship aligns with your fellowship timeline.

Your EIC Pathfinder grant will cover your personnel expenses. If the internship location is more than 150 km from your usual work location, InnoNext can reimburse you a mobility allowance of  2,300 Euros gross per month (up to 3 months). Longer internships won’t receive additional funding. During the internship, a monthly report will be required.

These terms will be included in the financial agreement. See the dedicated FAQ section: 11. 

As an EIC Pathfinder researcher, you will be required to sign the Financial Agreement. You will receive the financial agreement via email from InnoNext shortly after the Hosting company has indicated that they would like to activate the internship with you / shortly after the company has delivered the agreement signed by both of you to InnoNext.

Once you receive the Financial Agreement, you will only have to sign it and send it back to Innonext. If you want to read the Financial Agreement before, you can find it in the Resources section of the InnoNext website.

If you are a fellow participating in Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, Postdoctoral Fellow and COFUND projects, you are eligible for InnoNext.

A mandatory requirement to apply is to upload a Declaration of Honour confirming that you have obtained the authorisation from your supervisor and the Project Coordinator (if different). This step is crucial, as the Hosting company will have to become an associated partner of your MSCA project. What is a Declaration of Honor? See the FAQ n. 2.2

Additionally, please consider the duration of your fellowship and ensure that the internship duration aligns with your funded project.

Yes, InnoNext requires that the reference person (Pi/Project coordinator/employer) is informed and authorises the application and internship. MSCA-funded projects require the Hosting company to become an associated partner of the project consortium through a Grant agreement amendment. The PI/Project coordinator shall notify the request to the European Research & Executive Agency’s Project Officer (REA PO) via a Formal Notification in the dedicated Portal. Afterwards, a formal amendment procedure will finalise the changes and the Hosting company will be added to the list of Associated Partners in the system (Part A of the GA) and the Description of Action (Part B of the GA, explaining their role and contribution). You can refer to Article 32 of the MSCA Grant Agreement (.pdf), which lists the main contracting requirements and conditions.

Any secondments associated with the visiting period must remain within the limit of one-third of the fellowship duration, if applicable. 

The reimbursement of internship costs will be borne by the MSCA grant. To do so, the Hosting Company will have to become an Associated partner to the running MSCA project. The Project Coordinator should contact the European Research & Executive Agency’s Project Officer to proceed with this amendment of the grant agreement.

Yes, if you're a PhD or postdoctoral researcher in an ERC-funded project, you’re eligible. Just remember to upload your Declaration of Honor when applying. Additionally, please consider the duration of your fellowship and take note of the starting date when selecting your internship opportunity. This will ensure that your internship aligns with your project timeline.

What is a Declaration of honor? See the FAQ n. 2.2 to discover more and find the template of the Declaration of Honor in the Resource section.

InnoNext will reimburse you with a flat monthly rate (4,300 Euros gross for PhD students and 5,300 Euros gross for postdocs) for up to 3 months. Longer internships won’t receive additional reimbursements. During the internship, the contract with your original organization will be suspended and the original salary will stop for the internship duration. You will be fully paid by InnoNext and your internship will be covered by a new agreement. These terms will be included in the InnoNext financial agreement. See the dedicated FAQ section: 11. 

As an ERC researcher, you will be required to sign the Financial Agreement. You will receive the financial agreement via email from InnoNext shortly after the Hosting company has indicated that they would like to activate the internship with you / shortly after the company has delivered the agreement signed by both of you to InnoNext.

Once you receive the Financial Agreement, you will only have to sign it and send it back to Innonext. If you want to read the Financial Agreement before, you can find it in the Resources section of the InnoNext website.

Yes! If you’re a student in (or graduate from) EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programs, an EIT Alumni Member, or you’re participating in any postdoc training programmes supported by the EIT Community, you can apply.

You must upload a certificate or engagement letter to demonstrate your eligibility.

If yor’re affiliated with EIT, in the registration form, you will be required to upload a Certificate or Engagement Letter. This is a document that proves the current or past participation in an EIT programme (e.g. Contract, Grant Agreement, Acceptance Letter) and must include the EIT logo or a clear reference to the Educational programme related to EIT.

InnoNext will reimburse you with a flat monthly rate of 2.000 Euros gross for a 3 to 6-month internship, subject to availability of funds. An additional one-time mobility allowance of 750 Euros will be granted to participants whose internship takes place at least 150 kilometers away from their usual place of work. You will be fully paid by InnoNext, and your internship will be covered by a new agreement.  These terms will be included in the financial agreement. See the dedicated FAQ section: 11. 

Yes, for EIT participants, the internship must be finalised by the end of the year 2025.

Yes, if you're participating as a consortium member in a project funded by the Research Infrastructures part of Horizon Europe, you’re eligible. Don’t forget to upload your signed Declaration of Honor when applying. Additionally, please consider the duration of your fellowship and take note of the starting date when selecting your internship opportunity. This will ensure that your internship aligns with your funding timeline.

What is a Declaration of honor? See the FAQ n. 2.2 to discover more and find the template of the Declaration of Honor in the Resource section.

Additionally, please consider the duration of your fellowship and ensure that the internship duration aligns with your funded project.

Your Research & Infrastructure project will cover personnel costs, No additional funds are available for relocation.

Talents from EIC Pathfinders, EIT, and ERC have the right to receive InnoNext Financial Support.

EIT and ERC talents will be completely reimbursed by InnoNext, while EIC Pathfinder talents will receive from InnoNext an additional mobility allowance only if they need to relocate more than 150km far from their usual work location.

To know the amount of the financial support, look at the FAQ section dedicated to your affiliate programme:

• EIC Pathfinder: Section 6, 
• ERC: Section 8,   
• EIT: Section 9.

The Hosting company is not required to provide any direct payment to the visiting talents.

Once you and the company have agreed on the internship and all the required documents (the signed DOH and your Certificate or Engagement Letter if you’re affiliated with EIT) have been sent, InnoNext will check that you are eligible for financial support and send you the financial agreement to be signed.

You can view templates of the documents required during the process on the Resources page of the website. 

What is the Certificate/engagement letter required for EIT Talent? See FAQ 9.2.

Your internship activities must be certified through a monthly report (timesheet) . InnoNext will provide you with the template and guidelines to help you record the hours worked and tasks completed. This report must be sent by the end of the month. Once your report is submitted, the payment will be processed and transferred by the 15th of the following month.

In summary, to comply with the funding conditions, the following documents are required:

• The monthly report
• The self-assessment form, based on the European Entrecomp framework on entrepreneurial skills, is to be completed before and after the internship.
• The InnoNext experience evaluation is to be completed before and after the internship.

The Visiting talent and the Hosting company can agree on extending the internship duration and define eventual additional agreements. In any case, InnoNext provides financial support for only 3 months in case of ERC and EIC pathfinder talents and for 3 to 6 months in case of EIT talents.

The InnoNext financial support includes specific agreements for programmes:

• EIC Pathfinder Financial Agreement
• EIT Financial Agreement
• ERC Financial Agreement

These agreements include the following details:

• Identification of the contracting parties
• Selection procedure and eligibility criteria
• Type of financial support (internship reimbursement or mobility allowance)
• Conditions and deadlines for disbursement (FAQ 11.8)

Payments will be made via bank transfer directly to your bank account. The required data for the payment are: your bank account number, IBAN, and SWIFT/BIC code. Provide your bank details in the specific section of the Financial Agreement.

In case of issues with your bank details or the payment process, you will be notified by InnoNext. You may need to update your bank information or resolve the problem as soon as possible to avoid delays. For any issues related to the Financial support procedure, you can contact: administration@innonext-project.eu.