Project description
Training the future sustainable science leaders
Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, EPFL is one of Europe’s top science and technology universities. It is renowned throughout Europe and the world for its first-rate education, pioneering research and advanced technological innovation. To promote the transition to sustainability, the university has started integrating a sustainable innovation programme into the training of Bachelor, Master and PhD students. In this context, the EU-funded EPFLeaders4impact project aims to introduce sustainable innovation into the training of postdoctoral researchers who wish to be part of the next generation of sustainable science leaders. To that end, it will provide funding, training, lab facilities and expert advice, encouraging the researchers to develop novel and impactful products or services.
Objective
EPFL is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. Its mission is to provide first-rate education, foster pioneering research, and promote cutting-edge technological innovation.As one of the world’s top technical universities and as a leading actor driving disruptive innovation in Switzerland and beyond, EPFL is playing a critical role in the transition towards a sustainable society. Such transition requires not only new knowledge and technology but also responsible scientific leaders with an ability to think across boundaries, to envision all-encompassing solutions to critical societal problems, and to communicate their research to policymakers. EPFL has been integrating sustainability into the training of Bachelor, Master, and PhD students. The EPFLinnovators4impact programme will go one step further by integrating sustainable innovation into the training of postdoctoral researchers who wish to be part of the next generation of sustainable science leaders. Given that the majority of PhD holders eventually choose to pursue another career path than academia, it is crucial to build their entrepreneurial and leadership skills and to focus on sustainable entrepreneurship for those who have developed the required skills and knowledge to address global sustainability challenges during their PhDs. EPFLinnovators4impact is is intended for experienced researchers who have the ambition and the potential to provide innovative solutions addressing one or several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This innovative programme will provide postdoctoral fellows with funding, training, lab facilities, and expert advice allowing them to develop a novel and impactful product or service. In the course of the programme, they will be able to evaluate the potential for the commercialization of this product or service before founding a startup or licensing intellectual property to an existing company.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.4. - Increasing structural impact by co-funding activities
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-COFUND - Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-COFUND-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.