Matching people's potential
The purpose of InnoNext is to connect bright deep-tech talents and aspiring innovators with entrepreneurs, startups and SMEs collaborating through Innovation Internships.
Applications are now open!
Join our Info Sessions
Learn how to participate in our innovation program: explore opportunities and get your questions answered.
📅 May 12th 2025 15:00 CET – session for Visiting Talents
📅 May 19th 2025 15:00 CET – session for Hosting Companies
InnoNext 4 Objectives
Promote equal opportunities
Provide innovative startups and SMEs with access to cutting-edge research ideas and insights, thus accelerating the development of innovative products and services.
Facilitate knowledge transfer
Develop an entrepreneurial mindset by enabling researchers and aspiring innovators to gain practical experience and understanding of the processes needed to take research ideas to the next level.
Improve entrepreneurial growth
Mobilize individuals with specific skills, knowledge and abilities developed in EU excellence programmes within innovative startups and SMEs.
Increase Competitiveness
Improved and equal access to research talent: Innovative startups and SMEs supported by EU-funded programmes will have better access to research talent, which could lead to more innovative products and services.
Applications are now open!
Who Can Apply
Visiting Talents
Are you a researcher driven to transform cutting-edge ideas into real-world solutions? InnoNext initiative addresses researchers and innovators working at the frontiers of scientific and deep-tech R&D, ready to move breakthrough technologies from lab to market.
Apply to InnoNext if you are:
- EIC Pathfinder PhD candidates
- EIC Pathfinder Postdoctoral researchers
- EIC Transition researchers
- Students or graduates from EIT Label Master’s or Doctoral programmes
- EIT Alumni members
- Researchers from other postdoctoral training programmes funded by the EIT Community
- Other KICs education programmes
- PhD and/or postdoctoral researchers participating in projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC)
- Fellows participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Fellows participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks
- Fellows participating in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND
- PHD and/or postdoctoral researcher participating as a consortium member in a project funded by the Research Infrastructures part of Horizon Europe
Hosting Companies
Are you an innovative start-up or SME willing to access new ideas and insights from the cutting edge of research and accelerate the development of your solutions? InnoNext initiative connects start-ups with researchers at the forefront of scientific and deep-tech R&D.
Apply to InnoNext if your company is:
- Start-ups and SMEs supported by the EIC Accelerator (including H2020 SME instrument)
- EIC awarded Seal of Excellence companies
- SMEs/start-ups supported by EIC Transition
- SMEs/start-ups supported by EIC Pathfinder
- Startups and SMEs supported by the EIT Community and its business creation services
- Businesses founded with support from Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs)
- Companies that have partnered with KICs for innovation activities
- Startups or scale-ups with at least one co-founder who is an EIT Alumni member
Access to the right resources can make all the difference on your professional journey. Innonext offers a range of resources to support you in every phase of your application with legal toolkit, mentoring and training opportunities.
Resources