InnoNext FAQ

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

• EIC Pathfinder PhD candidate
• EIC Pathfinder Postdoctoral researcher
• 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, interested Talents are invited to provide essential information to confirm eligibility and register for InnoNext via the online form; once registered, you can apply to specific positions of interest. 

The InnoNext Call for Application form asks to provide an initial minimum set of information, including:  

• 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.  

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

There are two ways to apply.

• The Position page on this site showcases all the positions published by companies willing to host the talents. From the page of each position, you can click Apply; after that, you will be redirected to the matchmaking platform and automatically registered to the selected position.
• 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 Honor (DoH) for that specific position.

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

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

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

Shortly after submission, an email will confirm your registration to the InnoNext initiative and provide you with the link to set up the credentials to enter the matchmaking platform. Your eligibility is bound by the Declaration of Honor, the document required to gather the consent of your PI/Project coordinator/employer for your participation to InnoNext.

You must upload a signed Declaration of Honor for each application you submit.  

You can find a template of the Declaration of Honor in the Resources section.

The InnoNext website provides comprehensive information about the initiative, including details on the European Partner Programmes, the eligibility criteria and the economic conditions. 

For any specific Innovation internship, you can find details about goals, activities, duration and additional information in the posted position. 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.2.2).  

Once you’ve collected the consent form from your reference person, you can sign and upload the Declaration of Honor to apply for the specific internship position you are interested in.  

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

Yes, you can apply to every Innovation internship position 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 positions and check for suggestions that the matchmaking platform raises for 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 positions at any time and you can search for the right one to apply at any time.

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 position.

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

** Visiting talents coming from the ERC and the EIC Pathfinder will also have to sign the financial agreement.  

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

The Declaration of Honor is the document you’re required to upload to apply for each internship position you apply for. It confirms that you have informed and obtained the authorisation for that internship from your PI/Project coordinator/employers.  

You must upload a signed Declaration of Honor for each application you submit. 

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 section Profile. Use the button Duplicate category to upload more DoH.

The Letter of Commitment (LoC) is the document that the Hosting company must sign to join 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 the Hosting company is eligible for InnoNext. The template of the Letter of Commitment is available in the Resources section

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 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; 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.
• Researchers from ERC-funded projects will receive a flat monthly reimbursement by InnoNext for a maximum period of 3 months. 
• 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.
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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 for talents will last a maximum of 3 months; in case the internship may last longer, no additional funding will be provided by this action.

The duration depends on the type of internship and the affiliated programme of the Talent. In particular:

• 3 to 6 months for the researchers from ERC, EIC Pathfinder, EIT EU Research infrastructures, MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, MSCA Doctoral Networks and MSCA COFUND projects.
• Up to 6 months for the students and graduates from EIT Label Masters and Doctoral programs, EIT Alumni.

The exact duration of the internship can be indicated by the company in the position description or can be agreed upon during interviews.

Note that InnoNext reimbursement for talents will last a maximum of 3 months; in case the internship may last longer, no additional funding will be provided by this action.

When registering to the InnoNext website, some essential information is required. This set of information can be completed by accessing the matchmaking platform, in the section Profile. Here you will be able to upload a picture and update your CV.

You can modify and/or complete:

• your Personal Details (gender, date of birth, address)
• the list of your Skills
• details about your Work Experience

In this section, you will be able to upload the Declaration of Honor (DoH), the document to provide to finalise each application you want to submit to. Use the button Duplicate category to upload more DoH. You can get more details on the form in the Resources section.

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

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.

The selection of the candidate is entrusted to the company that published the position. All candidates who have decided to apply for a specific position 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.  

The InnoNext beneficiaries’ feedback is crucial to continuously improving InnoNext for future participants.  During the entire process, 3 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. 

InnoNext program requires to attend at least 70% of the scheduled hours for each session. Completing all the hours is not mandatory, but participation is highly recommended. 

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 EUR 2,300/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.

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 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 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 (EUR 4,300 for PhD students and EUR 5,300 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 contract. These terms will be included in 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.

Applications from EIT Community participants are not yet under consideration but are planned for consideration at a future date. Stay tuned!

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.