NextTechTalents

Call: REA.C – Future Society
Topic: C.4 – Reforming European R&I and Research Infrastructures
Project number: 101217112
Granting Authority: European Commission
Duration: 1 June 2025 – 30 September 2027

Website: https://www.nexttechtalents.eu

Research careers in the EU are often shaped early and can be difficult to redirect later. Many early-stage researchers (R1 and R2) face challenges in navigating diverse career paths due to fragmented transitions between academia, industry, the public sector, and entrepreneurial ventures. The absence of cohesive frameworks has hindered career mobility, skill development, and employability, particularly in rapidly evolving fields such as AI, digital transformation, and deep tech.

NextTechTalents addresses these challenges by creating integrated talent ecosystems that bridge sectors and enable researchers to gain the skills needed to transition between academia and non-academic environments, including entrepreneurial opportunities. By fostering interdisciplinary competences and supporting innovation, the project contributes to a sustainable and flexible talent pool across the European Research Area (ERA).

NextTechTalents, aligned with the goals of the European Research Area, aims to:

• create a robust and sustainable talent ecosystem, fostering talent circulation across sectors and enhancing employability and mobility
• develop tailored career services, mentoring programs, and training modules based on the ResearchComp framework
• create a comprehensive Handbook for HR managers and training providers to guide the integration of the NextTechTalents Training System into research and innovation institutions
• promote interdisciplinary skill acquisition and strengthen collaboration across academia, industry, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Through these efforts, NextTechTalents strengthens mobility, inclusive career support and cross-sector employability for early-stage researchers who thrive in evolving, competitive sectors.

Early stage researchers in the EU often encounter limited career mobility, fragmented transitions between sectors and lack of support for non-linear career development. Research careers are often shaped early, and once established, they can be difficult to redirect—especially without clear frameworks for transitioning between academia, industry, public institutions, and entrepreneurial ventures. This is particularly challenging in rapidly evolving fields like AI, digital transformation, and deep tech, where the demand for interdisciplinary skills is high but structured career guidance is scarce.

NextTechTalents develops a robust and sustainable talent ecosystem that supports career flexibility, cross-sector mobility, and employability through three key strategies:

1. Bridging Career Pathways

• Tailored career services to support researchers in exploring both academic and non-academic opportunities.
• Promotion of talent circulation to avoid that researchers are locked into one sector early in their career.
• Alignment with the European Research Area (ERA) goals to enhance mobility, inclusiveness, and talent retention.

2. Building Relevant Skills with ResearchComp

• Training modules that foster interdisciplinary and transferable skills relevant to AI, deep tech, and digital transformation.
• Mentoring programs supporting personal development and navigating unfamiliar sectors.
• Practical guidance for career redirection and entrepreneurial thinking.

3. Supporting Institutions with Tools

• A comprehensive Handbook for HR managers and training providers, offering implementation guidance for the NextTechTalents Training System.
• Framework for institutional support, promoting a culture of cross-sector collaboration and ongoing skill development.

The NextTechTalents project’s data follows a structured and purpose-driven approach to support evidence-based decision-making, personalised career development, and institutional change:

1. Data-Driven Needs Assessment
The project begins by collecting and analysing data on the current challenges faced by early-stage researchers (R1 and R2) in terms of career mobility, employability, and skill gaps.
It uses surveys, interviews, and institutional data to map sectoral needs, researcher profiles, and existing support structures across academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.

2. Competency Mapping using ResearchComp
Data is structured around the ResearchComp framework, which defines the key competencies researchers need for diverse career paths.
The project uses this taxonomy to align training content, mentoring activities, and career services with measurable skill outcomes.

3. Personalised Learning and Career Data
Researchers participating in the project may generate individual data through self-assessments, progress tracking, mentoring feedback, and training module completion.
This enables personalised career planning, matching individual aspirations with concrete opportunities and learning paths.

4. Institutional Integration and Benchmarking
At the organizational level, the project collects and analyses data to guide HR managers and training providers in integrating the NextTechTalents Training System.
The logic includes benchmarking institutional practices, monitoring uptake, and promoting best practices through the Handbook for HR and training providers.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation & Scalability
Data is continuously used for monitoring progress, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions (e.g., skills development, mobility improvements), and adjusting project tools and resources accordingly.
This logic supports scalability and sustainability, ensuring that the tools developed can be adapted across different national, sectoral, and institutional contexts.

Tailored Training Modules
A set of modular, competence-based training materials designed around the ResearchComp framework. Focused on transferrable skills, digital and entrepreneurial competencies, and interdisciplinary knowledge. Applicable across academic and non-academic career pathways.

Mentoring Programme for Researchers
A structured mentoring scheme connecting early-stage researchers with experienced professionals across sectors. Includes tools for goal-setting, skills tracking, and cross-sector exposure. Promotes personalised guidance in navigating career transitions.

Comprehensive Handbook for HR and Training Providers
A practical, implementation-ready guide for HR professionals and institutional training providers. Supports integration of the NextTechTalents Training System into institutional HR strategies. Includes templates, checklists, and case studies for real-world application.

NextTechTalents Career Services Toolkit
A suite of career support tools (self-assessment forms, learning plans, sector profiles). Designed to empower researchers in career planning and mobility. Adaptable for use in universities, research institutes, and innovation hubs.

Cross-Sectoral Collaboration Framework
Tools and guidelines to facilitate cooperation between academia, industry, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Includes models for joint training delivery, talent sharing, and innovation pathways.

Pilot Programmes and Case Studies
Tested and evaluated pilot implementations in partner institutions. Will generate documented case studies to support scalability and replication across the European Research Area.

Online Repository / Platform
A digital access point for all training materials, tools, and the handbook. Ensures open, reusable, and sustainable access beyond the lifetime of the project.

• Minds&Sparks GMBH
• Universitatea Babes Bolay
• Ventspils Augstskola
• Institut Jožef Stefan
• Munster Technological University
• Impact Hub Biedriba
• Acociatia Cluj IT
• Zavod digitialno inovacijsko središče Slovenije

For more information about the project, visit the official NextTechTalents website.