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InnoNext FAQ

InnoNext
Visiting talents
Hosting companies

Visiting talents

1. Eligibility and application

1.1 Can I apply for InnoNext?

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.

1.2 Is InnoNext open to applicants from outside Europe?

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.

1.3 Which types of internships are supported by 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. 

1.4 How can I apply for InnoNext?

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.  

1.5 How can I apply for a specific internship opportunity?

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.

1.6 How will my eligibility be verified?

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.

1.7 How can I inform my PI/Project coordinator/employer about InnoNext and the innovation internship?

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.

1.8 Can I apply to more than one internship opportunity?

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

1.9 Can I apply to InnoNext if my funded project is nearly over?

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. 

1.10 What should I do if I cannot find suitable internship opportunities for me?

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.

1.11 What if I don't have the ORCID?

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.

1.12 What are the deadlines for the application?

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.

2. Administrative and legal issues

2.1 Which types of agreements must I sign?

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. 

2.2 What is the Declaration of Honour (DOH), and is there a template?

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

2.3 What is the Letter of Commitment?

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

2.4 How will the Intellectual Property (IP) be managed?

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.

2.5 Who will pay for the internship?

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. 

3. Innovation internship conditions

3.1 How long is the internship?

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.

Note that:
  • 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.
3.2 Can the internship be conducted remotely, in a hybrid format, or on-site?

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. 

4. Matchmaking and selection process

4.1 How does the matchmaking process work?

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.

4.2 How does the selection process work?

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.

4.3 How can I access the matchmaking platform?

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.  

4.4 What are the steps after I have accepted an Innovation Internship offer?

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.

5. InnoNext support

5.1 How does InnoNext guarantee the quality of the process?

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. 

5.2 Is there a mentorship program?
Yes, there is. In particular, three collective mentorship sessions are planned: two for Visiting talents and one for the Hosting companies. Held as online meetings, the workshops aim to support the beneficiaries to exploit the InnoNext opportunities. 

6. Talents from EIC Pathfinder

6.1 Can I apply for InnoNext?

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.

6.2 Who will cover the internship expenses?

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. 

6.3 How to sign the financial agreement?

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.

7. Talents from MSCA researcher

7.1 Can I apply for InnoNext?

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.

7.2 Do I have any obligations towards my PI/project coordinator/employer?

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.

7.3 Is there a limit on the duration of the Innovation internship?

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

7.4 Who will cover the internship expenses?

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.

8. Talents from ERC

8.1 Can I apply for InnoNext?

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.

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

8.2 Who will cover the internship expenses?

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. 

8.3 How to sign the financial agreement?

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.

9. Talents from EIT

9.1 Can I apply for InnoNext?

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.

9.2 What is the Certificate or Engagement Letter?

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.

9.3 Who will cover the internship expenses?

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. 

9.5 Is there a deadline for the internship?

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

10. Talents from HE Research Infrastructures

10.1 Can I apply for InnoNext?

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.

10.2 Who will cover the internship expenses?

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

11. Financial support (for EIC Pathfinder, EIT and ERC talents)

11.1 Who is eligible for Financial Support?

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.

11.2 How can I access the Financial support?

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.

11.3 What are the conditions and deadlines for disbursement?

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.
11.4 What happens if I want to extend my 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.

11.5 Which types of financial agreements are offered?

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.

11.6 What happens if there is an issue with the payment or my bank details?

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.

Hosting companies

1. Eligibility and Application

1.1. Can my company apply for InnoNext?

Your company can apply if it is or was

  • A Start-up or a SME supported by the EIC Accelerator (including the H2020 SME instrument)
  • An EIC-awarded Seal of Excellence company,
  • A SME/start-up supported by EIC Pathfinder,
  • A SME/start-up supported by EIC Transition,
  • A Start-up/SME supported by EIT Community innovation and business creation services from all KICs,
  • A Start-up/SME created as a result of receiving support from KICs,
  • A Startup/scaleup/SME that has been a partner of KICs for Innovation activities,
  • A startup/scaleup that has at least one co-founder who is an EIT Alumni member.

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.

1.2. Which information does the company application require?
When filling out the InnoNext Call for Application, a minimal set of information will be required to identify your company. After the application submission on the website, an email will provide you with the Letter of Commitment. This document, containing all the administrative details, confirms that your company is eligible for InnoNext (see FAQ n. 3.4). It must be signed and returned to InnoNext to complete the company’s application. After a while, an email will confirm the company's registration and provide the link to set up the credentials to enter the matchmaking platform, where you can start creating the Internship opportunities.

What is a Letter of Commitment? See FAQ n. 3.4
1.3 Where can I find the Registration Number and the Name of the Supporting programme asked for EIT companies?

If you are an EIT company, you will be required to insert this information in the InnoNext online registration form.

  • The registration number is the official organisational identifier, analogous to the VAT number.
  • The Name of the supporting programme refers to the European programme, innovation initiative, or collaboration through which your company has received support, funding, or established a partnership.
1.4 Are there any conditions related to the EIC Seal of Excellence?

If your company has received the EIC Seal of Excellence, it is eligible to apply for InnoNext. This applies whether the project is funded by another organisation or lacks alternative funding but remains a priority for the company to execute it. 

1.5 How will my company's eligibility be checked?

When filling out the InnoNext Call for Application web form, you'll be asked to input the PIC* and the EU Programme the company refers to. After the application submission on the website, an email will provide you with the Letter of Commitment. This document, containing all the administrative details, confirms that your company is eligible for InnoNext (see FAQ n.3.4). It must be signed and returned to InnoNext to complete the company’s application.  

EIT companies will be also asked to send a Certificate or Engagement Letter, demonstrating the affiliation with EIT (more information in FAQ 3.2)

After a while, an email will confirm the company's registration and provide the link to set up the credentials to enter the matchmaking platform, where to describe the internship vacancy.

What is a Letter of Commitment? See FAQ n. 3.4

*PIC: the 9-digit Participant Identification Code assigned to every organisation registered on the EU Participant Portal (Find more information at this link).


1.6 What are the deadlines to apply?

InnoNext runs an open call until July 2026. During this period, both companies and talents can register for the InnoNext project at any time to find their ideal match and begin an Innovation internship.

That means that your company can register to InnoNext and publish new internship opportunities at any time throughout the duration of the project, and Talents can apply for it at any time. We suggest you to sign up and start posting your vacancy offers, even if the starting date will be later on. Publishing your internship opportunity now will allow you to meet more talents and get more applications. Consider also that the internship must be included in the Talent’s funding project duration; we recommend clearly indicating your ideal period of the internship and its duration so that candidates can be aware of it. You could also indicate an estimated period in which you will start contacting candidates for interviews. All the internships must be completed by the end of July 2026. If there are no preferences regarding the period, you can discuss this detail with the talent during the interviews.

2. Value for the Hosting companies

2.1. What can my company obtain by applying to InnoNext?

By applying to InnoNext, your company can access specialised expertise to solve technical problems, leverage innovative ideas to drive growth and expansion, and benefit from fully-funded internships valued at up to EUR 30,000, providing fresh talent and new perspectives.

2.2. Who will pay the talent during the internship?

The internship payment is fully managed by InnoNext or the EU-funded project the talent is working in. More in detail: 

  • EIC Pathfinder researchers will be funded within the Pathfinder grant; InnoNext shall add a 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.   
  • EIT Talents will receive a monthly reimbursement by InnoNext for a minimum period of 3 months and a maximum period of 6 months. 
  • Researchers from ERC-funded projects will receive a flat monthly reimbursement by InnoNext for a maximum period of 3 months. 
  • For researchers funded by MSCA and HE Research Infrastructure, the respective funding Programme will cover the internship. Therefore, the payment will depend on the grant agreements. 


When signing the Letter of Commitment (LoC), you are also asked to sign Annexe 3 for acknowledgement. This means that you agree on the financing system of the initiative, in which 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.

Note that InnoNext reimbursement will last a maximum of 3 months for EIC Pathfinder and ERC talents and a maximum of 6 months for EIT talents . In case the internship lasts longer, no additional funding will be provided by this action.

What is a Letter of Commitment? See FAQ n. 3.4

2.3 Which types of internships are supported by 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 and EIT Alumni. The internship can last from 3 to 6 months.  

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


 

3. Administrative and legal issues

3.1. Which type of contract will the company sign?
Once the selection process is done, both the Hosting company and the Visiting talent must sign the Internship Contract, including Annex 2 of the Letter of Commitment (see FAQ n. 3.4). 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 template of the Letter of Commitment is available in the Resources section

What is a Letter of Commitment? See FAQ n. 3.5 
3.2 What is the EIT Certificate/Engagement Letter?

The "Certificate or Engagement Letter" is any certificate, registration letter, or document that indicates your participation in an EIT programme. It can be a document confirming the completion of an activity supported by EIT (e.g. grant agreement, investment agreement), but also a document certifying your ongoing participation in an EIT programme (e.g. Collaboration contract). 


3.3 How will the Intellectual Property (IP) be managed?

IP rights are regulated in the Internship Contract, including Annexe 2 of the Letter of Commitment (see FAQ n. 3.4). 

In summary, the contract 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 your company plans to host a researcher funded by the MSCA programme, please refer to Section 7 of the FAQ for the specific programme requirements.

What is a Letter of Commitment? See FAQ n. 3.4

3.4 What is the Letter of Commitment?

The Letter of Commitment (LoC) is the document that the Hosting company must sign to join in the InnoNext initiative. It regulates the general conditions of participation, including the description of the internship/s, the terms and obligations and the applicable laws and jurisdiction. 

This document, containing all the administrative details, confirms that your company is eligible for InnoNext (see FAQ n. 3.4). It must be signed and returned to InnoNext to complete the company’s application. The LoC template will be sent to the company after the application is submitted on the InnoNext website. It must be signed and returned to InnoNext to complete the company’s application.  

After a while, an email will confirm the company's registration and provide the link to set up the credentials to enter the matchmaking platform, where start creating the Internship vacancies.

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


3.5 Which role does the Hosting Company play in the internship?

The Hosting company will coordinate the Innovation internship, from welcoming the Visiting Talents through all the planned activities, allowing them to achieve the internship goals and making all the opportunities and resources available for this purpose.

3.6 As a Hosting company, are there any obligations toward the project consortium/employer of the Visiting Talent?

In most cases, there are no formal reporting requirements. However, the primary obligation is for the Hosting Company to provide the Visiting talent with meaningful, hands-on experience. In fact, beneficiaries are authorised to undertake internships when the consortium or employer deems the contribution beneficial to the project's scientific output and/or the development of the researcher’s entrepreneurial and business skills. If your company plans to host a researcher under the MSCA programme, please refer to Section 7 of this page for specific programme requirements.

3.7 What is the InnoNext Agreement Template?

The Agreement Template is a private agreement that can be complemented by the Hosting Company and Visiting Talent, provided that the core articles related to the implementation of the InnoNext project remain unchanged. Further amendments are allowed only if strictly necessary to comply with mandatory rules of applicable law.

3.8 Who Is Responsible for Insurance Coverage?

The Hosting Company is responsible for ensuring insurance coverage for the hosted talent, as outlined in the Letter of Commitment (points 1.3 and 1.6). In line with EU labour principles, the company must comply with applicable legal requirements on working conditions, including insurance. This obligation is fulfilled by extending the company's existing insurance policy to cover the Visiting Talent.

If you have any doubts, feel free to contact us at info@innonext-project.eu.

3.9 Who Pays Social Security Contributions?

Social security contributions are the responsibility of the Visiting Talent. The Hosting Company has no social security or contribution obligations towards the hosted talent. The only obligation of the company is to ensure that it has insurance coverage in compliance with the law, by extending its existing insurance policy to include the Visiting Talent.

If you have any doubts, feel free to contact us at info@innonext-project.eu.

4. Company profile and new internship opportunities

4.1 How can I introduce my Company to the Talents?

The first point where the Talents learn about your Company is the vacancy, which includes the description of the internship opportunities and the company. When creating a new vacancy on the matchmaking platform, the Company is required to describe itself. Use this space to describe the innovation or EU-funded research project to which the internship refers. Add mission and details on the organisations and people, and do not forget to include the website or relevant touchpoints to learn more about it. To describe your company and the innovation project is working on:

  • The company must be registered to InnoNext.
  • Access to the matchmaking platform by signing in from the InnoNext website or directly by the link received via email.
  • In the matchmaking platform, Click on Add new > Vacancy (or enter from the side menu in the section Vacancies and then click on Add new vacancy button above on the right).
  • Fill in the form.
  • You can get more details on the form in the Resources section.
4.2 What information must the internship description include?

A structured form on the matchmaking platform will guide you in creating the internship opportunity, here called "vacancy". The form mandatory fields are (in sequence): .

  • Vacancy owner*: is the company's reference person who will coordinate the internship.
  • Title*: summarises the internship position in 1 line
  • Company description: this field is required for each vacancy to allow the company to describe the innovation/EU-funded project to which the internship will refer and the role and vision of the company in relation to it. Here, you can also add the website and other touchpoints where the candidates can find more information about the company and the project.
  • Position*: use the Position field to describe in detail the Internship. Provide a detailed description of the tasks the intern will be involved in and asked to perform. This information is crucial to attract and engage the talents and effectively inform their Project Coordinator/Principal Investigator (PI)/employer, who must approve the internship under their project grant. Explain why the candidate's expertise is crucial for the role and list the competencies and output that the internship will aim to develop. Clearly link the activities to the expected outcomes of the innovation project, emphasising the connection between the internship and the project's objectives. Here, you can indicate your ideal period of the internship and its duration in the new vacancy form so that candidates can be aware of it. You can also indicate an estimated period in which you will start contacting candidates for interviews.
  • Requirements*: explicit the required qualifications (such as Degree Level, Specific Technical Skills and more), soft skills (interpersonal or organisational skills required for the role), and other desired qualifications for the proposed internship.
  • Workplace*: location of the activity.
  • Functional area*: refers to the sector of the company.

In the Other information section, you can indicate some other information, such as the working modality, from the drop-down menu of Working type. Note that this section will not be visible to the Talent, so consider including this information in the description of the position in the Other Information text box. Finally, you can add one cover image (displayed on top of the Positions webpage) and relevant attachments to learn more about the project and the company.

4.4 How many Innovation internship opportunities can we publish?

Once registered, the Hosting company can publish the internship opportunities that it needs and can coordinate.

4.5 How can we boost the visibility of our internship offer and reach the proper audience?

InnoNext relies on several channels to disseminate the Internship opportunities, including support from the EU Partner Programme Communication departments. In addition to this, once your vacancy is published on InnoNext, you can directly spread it to your social networks. For instance, in LinkedIn, you can mention @InnoNext Project and the programme you are affiliated with (i.e. #EICaccelerator) and add hashtags on #yourtopic to categorize your post and make it discoverable.

4.6 Can the internship be conducted remotely, in a hybrid format, or on-site?

Remote work is allowed if it aligns with your company’s policy. Based on that, the Hosting company can decide how to organise the internship and indicate the working modality in the Vacancy form in the drop-down menu of Working type (remote, hybrid, or on-site).

If talent’s preferences or your requirements differ, you’ll agree on the format. 

4.7 How long is the internship?

The Innovation Internship in InnoNext can last from 3 to 6 months. 

Note that InnoNext reimbursement for talents will last a maximum of 3 months for ERC and EIC Pathfinder, and a maximum of 6 months for EIT Talents. In case the internship may last longer, no additional funding will be provided by this action. 

You can agree upon the duration with the Telents during the interview.

4.8 How can I close an internship vacancy?

When the Company no longer wants to receive applications from talents, it is possible to close the internship vacancy directly on the platform. This action hides the vacancy from potential applicants, preventing them from seeing or applying to it.

There are different ways to close a position, depending on your specific reason for doing so:

  • If you’ve hired a talent and want to close the position: Go to your vacancy list, click the three dots on the right side of the vacancy you wish to close, and select “Archive”.
  • If you want to hide the position for any other reason: You can unpublish it. To do so, select the vacancy, click the “Edit” button at the top right of the screen, and then click “Unpublish” in the editing page (located in the same top-right area).

5. Matchmaking and selection process

5.1. How does the matchmaking process work?

InnoNext facilitates the matchmaking between applicant 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 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 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. 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.

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.

5.2. How does the selection process work?

The selection of the candidate is entrusted to the company that published the internship opportunity. All candidates who have decided to apply for a specific vacancy will be visible to the company that published it. The Hosting company directly contacts the selected candidates to schedule interviews. During this, you will have the opportunity to discuss all relevant aspects with the Talents. Consider that the internship must be included in the Talent’s funding project duration, and in general, the internships hosting an EIT Talent must be completed by the end of December 2025, while all the others by the end of July 2026. If there are no preferences regarding the period, you can discuss this detail with the talent during the interviews.

You, as a company, are required to update the matchmaking platform, updating the application status for each candidate, as follows:

  • Not contacted: after reviewing the CV, you think that the candidate is not suitable for your position.
  • Invited to interview: after reviewing the CV, you decide to interview the talent.
  • Interview invitation declined: the talent decides to decline your invitation.
  • Interviewed but not selected: after the interview, you decide not to proceed with that candidate.
  • Internship offer declined: the talent declines your internship offer.
  • Selected: Both you and the talent agree to start the collaboration.

Note: Changing the status during the selection process is crucial. In particular, the status “Selected” directly informs InnoNext of your choice; update it is required to receive the necessary documentation and start the internship. InnoNext mentors are available to support the process and activate the internship at the right moment.

5.3 How can we access the matchmaking platform?

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.

5.4 What are the steps after selecting the Talent for the internship?

After the interview, if you and the talent agree on the internship, three actions are required to the company:

1- Informing InnoNext and signing the documents

Once you have identified the talent you wish to host in your company, you must update the application status on the InnoNext platform, setting the status of the selected candidate to "Selected". This step is essential, as it notifies the InnoNext team of your decision. Upon receiving the status update, InnoNext will send you the Letter of Commitment (LoC) along with Annexe 2. Both you and the selected talent must sign these documents and return them to InnoNext. Once the documents are received, the team will verify their validity and accuracy.  If everything is in order, InnoNext Team will then provide the talent with the documents required for financial support, if applicable.

After confirming the documents are valid, everything is ready to begin the collaboration!

2- Managing your Vacancy after selecting a Talent

Now that you’ve selected a talent, you can choose to either close the vacancy or add more positions to it.

  • If you do not plan to hire other talents for this position: You must archive the vacancy to prevent further applications. To do this, go to your vacancy list, click the three dots next to the relevant position, and select “Archive”. 
  • If you would like to hire more talent for the same vacancy: You can add additional positions. To do this, select the vacancy, click the “Edit” button at the top right of the screen, scroll to the final section titled “Other info”, and update the “Number of positions” field with the total number of talents you wish to hire for that role

  • 3- Evaluate: 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.

    6. InnoNext support

    6.1 How does InnoNext guarantee the quality of the process?

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

    6.2 What does the InnoNext mentorship plan include?

    Three collective mentorship sessions are planned: two for Visiting talents and one for the Hosting companies. Held as online meetings, the workshops aim to support the beneficiaries to exploit the InnoNext opportunities. 

    Additionally, companies can profit from on-demand, one-on-one meetings with the InnoNext mentors.

    7. Hosting Talents from the MSCA Programme

    7.1. What actions are required for the Hosting company to host a Visiting talent from MSCA?

    To host a researcher funded by the MSCA programme, your company will be affiliated as an Associated Partner through a project Grant Agreement amendment to update the list of Associated Partners and the Description of Action. 

    The Horizon Europe Grant agreement is available at this link (.pdf).

    InnoNext will provide the support to finalise this administrative phase. 


    7.2. How will the intellectual property (IP) be managed if the Hosting company becomes an Associate partner of MSCA?

    Becoming an Associated partner to MSCA requires following the regulation of the Horizon Europe Grant Agreement (GA). In particular, the GA indicates that beneficiaries retain ownership of their pre-existing background but must share access as needed for the project, ensuring compliance with third-party rights. Results produced during the action remain the creators' property, while the granting authority holds a royalty-free license to use materials and information for communication and publicity purposes. Beneficiaries are responsible for securing necessary permissions for third-party IP or moral rights (Article 16). 

    The Horizon Europe Grant agreement is available at this link (.pdf)


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