Three calls were launched with a view to attracting top-talent from all over the world, with deadlines of 31 January 2022, 2 May 2022 and 1 March 2023 respectively.
The programme and its calls were widely promoted on a local, national and international levels to attract excellent experienced researchers of any nationality. A dedicated visual identity was developed specifically for EPFLeaders4impact along with a website and a flyer, among others. The three calls were published on the EURAXESS website and promoted via the Research Office social media channels. The communication plan also targeted various EPFL departments and stakeholders in the EPFL community as well as external network of partners such as universities worldwide and non-academic partners such as associations to disseminate the open calls.
A total of 40 applications were received for the three calls. Following a fair, equitable, and transparent review process involving an Intersectoral Excellence Committee (IEC), 16 applicants were selected. Of these, 14 accepted and started their Marie-Sklodowska Curie postdoctoral fellowships during the first reporting period. A total of 9 countries are represented with one female fellow (7% of the total). 57% of the fellows are nationals of a non-EU country.
To foster entrepreneurial capacity and to enable the fellows to pursue translational research, a multifaceted training programme is provided, including a collaboration with the non-academic sector. The training programme is focused on scientific training, innovation and entrepreneurship, sustainability and responsible leadership/transferable skills.
The EPFLeaders4impact programme is now mid-way. Fellows are now in the first year or second year of their fellowship and they have already shown very good achievements in a relatively short time. For example, 11 fellows succeeded in establishing collaboration agreements with the non-academic sector (with 2 more in process). Another fellow is involved in knowledge transfer, and 4 fellows already gave positive feedback about possible patent creation. Additionally, two fellows obtained professorship positions and one fellow received the second prize of the Euro Tech Future Award 2023.
Two open access publications have been published and 18 are currently in preparation. In total, fellows participated in conferences (16), workshops (12) and events (3).
