InnoNext's first matches show early promise as research internships link talent with European deep tech
- ›InnoNext has begun placing researchers with European start-ups and SMEs through funded innovation internships.
- ›Early matches include a computational chemistry role at Compular and a soil diagnostics project at CinSOIL.
- ›Participants praise the platform's speed and onboarding but evidence remains anecdotal at this stage.
- ›InnoNext is run by the EIC Business Acceleration Services and targets multiple EU talent streams.
- ›EIT Talents internships are currently paused because funding allocations have been exhausted.
InnoNext launches first internships to bridge lab research and startup scaling
The InnoNext programme, an initiative of the European Innovation Council Business Acceleration Services, has started to place highly qualified researchers into short term innovation internships with European start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises. Announced matches in late July 2025 present early examples of the model that aims to move research out of the lab and into commercial and product development environments.
What the first matches look like
Within weeks of the platform going live a handful of placements were reported. These initial cases illustrate the diversity of use cases the programme aims to serve, from deep tech computational chemistry to applied biotechnology and AI for agriculture.
| Visiting Talent | Hosting Company | Sector and Role | Notable details |
| Sarthak, MSc in Smart Electrical Networks and Systems | Compular | Deep tech, computational chemistry support | Rapid onboarding, exposure to connected innovation environment |
| Nicolas, researcher (EIT Food background) | CinSOIL | Biotechnology and AI for sustainable agriculture, soil diagnostics | Six month internship; company reported receiving applications within 24 hours |
Voices from the first placements
Participants describe the platform and the onboarding process as fast and user friendly. Sarthak said the onboarding was fast and efficient and that the team kept everything on track which gave him confidence. Nicolas described the platform as user friendly and straight to the point. From the company side Dr Tavseef Mairaj Shah, co founder of CinSOIL, commented: "We received applications within 24 hours. The system works—fast, effective, and designed to match talent with ecosystem experience."
Who can apply and current funding caveats
InnoNext targets a range of European research and innovation talent streams and qualified start ups. The initiative is intended for researchers from EIC and EIT labelled programmes and other Horizon Europe talent routes as well as start ups and SMEs supported by EIC and EIT instruments.
| Talent categories | Examples |
| EIC related | EIC Pathfinder PhD candidates, EIC Transition researchers, EIC Talents |
| EIT related | EIT Label Master and Doctoral students, EIT Alumni, EIT Talent programmes |
| Other Horizon Europe streams | ERC researchers, MSCA fellows, Research Infrastructure members and COFUND |
Why this model matters and what to watch
The idea behind InnoNext addresses a repeat problem in the EU innovation system. Many strong research results stall before they become commercial products because start ups and SMEs lack domain specific research capacity or connections to research networks. Conversely researchers receive little hands on experience translating lab results into market propositions. Short, funded internships can reduce friction by giving both sides rapid exposure to each other.
How to get involved
The InnoNext platform remains open and the organisers say new matches are forming every week. Start ups and SMEs looking for specialised research talent can post opportunities and researchers seeking applied experience can apply. The platform URL is www.innonext-project.eu. The initiative is promoted by the EIC Business Acceleration Services and updates are distributed via the EIC BAS newsletter.
Final note and practical caveats
The first published stories demonstrate the practical value of rapid matching for some organisations. However these early cases do not yet prove the broader effectiveness of the model. Continued transparency on outcomes and steady funding will be crucial if the scheme is to scale and to deliver measurable transfers from public research to market ready solutions across Europe.
Disclaimer The information in this article is drawn from programme communications and public InnoNext materials and should not be interpreted as the official position of the European Commission or other organisations involved.