Talents Programme
The Programme Vision
The BOOST Talents Programme is a hands-on mobility and training scheme designed to help researchers in Widening countries turn excellent research into real-world value. Instead of “one more course”, it combines practical learning with a structured secondment in leading innovation organisations, so participants build the skills, confidence, and networks needed to bring ideas closer to market, policy uptake, or scalable social impact.
BOOST will select 60 researchers to take part in a 12-month programme that blends mentoring, learning-by-doing, and cross-sector collaboration. Each participant follows a tailored pathway, co-designed with their sending organisation and the host organisation, so the experience fits their research field, career goals, and the concrete opportunities in their local ecosystem.
- Transparent selection through open, public calls published by the participating academic organisations.
- A Personal Career Development Plan for every selected researcher, aligned with the New European Research Area direction and built together with academic and non-academic partners.
- 12 months of secondment activity, delivered in a flexible mix of in-person work and smart working, defined through a structured dialogue between the researcher, the sending organisation, and the host organisation.
- A team-based approach: researchers develop complementary expertise across five business competences, so each sending organisation strengthens its internal capacity, not just individual CVs.
- A clear “return and multiply” logic, supported by a Personal Return Plan that helps transfer skills, tools, and practices back to the home organisation and region.
The Programme Structure
The programme includes five focused mentoring modules, each delivered by a non-academic partner with direct, real-world experience. Each module is designed as an intensive learning experience, supported by practical tools, templates, and access to relevant services and networks. Participants then apply the learning directly during their secondments.
