European Union Contest for early-career researchers

In order to attract more early-career researchers to a career in science and promote the opportunities not only in academia, but also industry and starting up own business, a special event for early-career researchers had been piloted as part of Leiden 2022 European City of Science. The event had a clear European dimension, and the next edition planned to take place in Katowice should build on the work already done as part of Leiden 2022 European City of Science.

The event will bring together at least 100 early career researchers from across the European Union, researchers who should be gender-balanced, and as much as possible also reflect geographical and other diversity characteristics, divided in small teams, and mentors from academia, industry and SMEs in a competition to find scientific solutions to a set of challenges. Specific challenges are determined through a consultation with stakeholders in that particular field and are based on broader policy priorities. This action supports ERA Policy A