Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Talent4Iberia (Career development of international talents of the energy research fields in the Iberian Peninsula)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-01-01 bis 2025-12-31
Talent4Iberia is a Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme for talent attraction to Extremadura offering interdisciplinary and intersectoral fellowships with a duration of 3 years each for the mobility and training of 10 postdoctoral researchers of any nationality to develop R&D activities in ENERGY STORAGE, with the purpose to boost their employability and career opportunities in an exceptional research environment.
This programme is co-funded by the European Commission under the MSCA COFUND of the HORIZON EUROPE Framework Program, awarded under the Call HORIZON-MSCA-2022-COFUND-01 with the Grant Agreement nº 101128265.
The programme is coordinated by the Regional Government of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura), Spain, and implemented by 3 Spanish recruiting Host Institutions: 1) Foundation FUNDECYT Science and Technology Park of Extremadura - Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage (Fundecyt-CIIAE); 2) University of Extremadura (UEX); 3) Centre for Scientific and Technological Research of Extremadura (CICYTEX), and counts with the participation of 21 Associated Partners from 15 different countries (EU and abroad), from academia, research centres and industry dedicated to the energy sector, who will offer secondments to the selected research fellows.
Talent4Iberia is aligned with the specialization pattern of RIS3 Extremadura 2027, with energy storage being a priority line of research. Its international and interdisciplinary scope of execution will positively contribute to scientific and technological development in this field. The programme is focused on generating in-depth knowledge and promoting excellent talent within a number of specific scientific and technological specialization areas in the field of Energy, in line with expertise and long-term priorities of the Implementing Partners that will recruit and host the researchers. The programme involves both academic and industrial participating organizations with strong expertise on energy technologies, guaranteeing this way an attractive, intersectoral and international ecosystem with a focus on ENERGY STORAGE.
This programme is co-funded by the European Commission under the MSCA COFUND of the HORIZON EUROPE Framework Program, awarded under the Call HORIZON-MSCA-2022-COFUND-01 with the Grant Agreement nº 101128265.
The programme is coordinated by the Regional Government of Extremadura (Junta de Extremadura), Spain, and implemented by 3 Spanish recruiting Host Institutions: 1) Foundation FUNDECYT Science and Technology Park of Extremadura - Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage (Fundecyt-CIIAE); 2) University of Extremadura (UEX); 3) Centre for Scientific and Technological Research of Extremadura (CICYTEX), and counts with the participation of 21 Associated Partners from 15 different countries (EU and abroad), from academia, research centres and industry dedicated to the energy sector, who will offer secondments to the selected research fellows.
Talent4Iberia is aligned with the specialization pattern of RIS3 Extremadura 2027, with energy storage being a priority line of research. Its international and interdisciplinary scope of execution will positively contribute to scientific and technological development in this field. The programme is focused on generating in-depth knowledge and promoting excellent talent within a number of specific scientific and technological specialization areas in the field of Energy, in line with expertise and long-term priorities of the Implementing Partners that will recruit and host the researchers. The programme involves both academic and industrial participating organizations with strong expertise on energy technologies, guaranteeing this way an attractive, intersectoral and international ecosystem with a focus on ENERGY STORAGE.
The Talent4Iberia programme launched one International Call for Applications to recruit postdoctoral candidates. The scientific and technical evaluation of each qualified application was carried out by internationally recognized industrial and/or scientific experts specialized in the research areas of the Talent4Iberia project. All evaluation activities were conducted remotely, and the recruitment process has been enhanced through the implementation of an online application platform and the integration of gender balance principles within the selection committees. So far, 4 out of 10 postdoctoral positions were successfully filled.
Talent4Iberia project has attracted young talents both from Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy) and from outside (Pakistan), strengthening the internationalization of European research. The postdoctoral researchers and their supervisors were officially introduced in a face-to-face introduction meeting with the technical staff of the programme, where essential initial information and guidelines regarding the programme and next steps were shared, enhancing shared understanding of the programme’s goals and expectations, and providing an opportunity for early networking and collaboration among all postdoctoral fellows and supervisors.
Training and Career Development
The Talent4Iberia Training Programme aims to provide high quality training in research and transversal skills development to the fellows, exposing them to interdisciplinary training from academic and industry in an international environment. All fellows have been working on the first version of a personal career development plan (PCDP) to provide an overview of both short-term and long-term professional and personal objectives, along with the strategies to achieve them. It outlines the skills and knowledge they consider necessary to reach these goals, including research techniques, management abilities, dissemination and communication skills, networking, and other relevant competencies. Additionally, it specifies the means and tools for acquiring these skills, such as training, research activities, secondments, and dissemination efforts, while identifying key milestones and outputs (e.g. research results and publications) to monitor their progress and demonstrate impact.
These training activities were initiated offering the first online training courses on Artificial Intelligence applied to research and Gender Aspects in research, accessible for them through the virtual training platform CAPACYT (https://capacityt.fundecyt-pctex.es/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) designed by the programme’s Training Coordinator (TCO). Individualized mentoring and regular meetings with supervisors have been established to support them throughout their postdoctoral journey. Further training activities to be followed.
The aim is that each fellow will have secondment periods in their individual project of up to 12 months in academic partner organization and in non-academic partner organization. The academic and industry secondments offer a unique training platform for the fellows, and are considered as an important part of the training, offering experience on interdisciplinary and intersectoral environments. The first secondments will take place in 2026.
Talent4Iberia project has attracted young talents both from Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy) and from outside (Pakistan), strengthening the internationalization of European research. The postdoctoral researchers and their supervisors were officially introduced in a face-to-face introduction meeting with the technical staff of the programme, where essential initial information and guidelines regarding the programme and next steps were shared, enhancing shared understanding of the programme’s goals and expectations, and providing an opportunity for early networking and collaboration among all postdoctoral fellows and supervisors.
Training and Career Development
The Talent4Iberia Training Programme aims to provide high quality training in research and transversal skills development to the fellows, exposing them to interdisciplinary training from academic and industry in an international environment. All fellows have been working on the first version of a personal career development plan (PCDP) to provide an overview of both short-term and long-term professional and personal objectives, along with the strategies to achieve them. It outlines the skills and knowledge they consider necessary to reach these goals, including research techniques, management abilities, dissemination and communication skills, networking, and other relevant competencies. Additionally, it specifies the means and tools for acquiring these skills, such as training, research activities, secondments, and dissemination efforts, while identifying key milestones and outputs (e.g. research results and publications) to monitor their progress and demonstrate impact.
These training activities were initiated offering the first online training courses on Artificial Intelligence applied to research and Gender Aspects in research, accessible for them through the virtual training platform CAPACYT (https://capacityt.fundecyt-pctex.es/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) designed by the programme’s Training Coordinator (TCO). Individualized mentoring and regular meetings with supervisors have been established to support them throughout their postdoctoral journey. Further training activities to be followed.
The aim is that each fellow will have secondment periods in their individual project of up to 12 months in academic partner organization and in non-academic partner organization. The academic and industry secondments offer a unique training platform for the fellows, and are considered as an important part of the training, offering experience on interdisciplinary and intersectoral environments. The first secondments will take place in 2026.
The project's impact extends beyond postdoctoral training. It fosters long-term international collaborations by establishing connections with new research labs and creating synergies with local companies. This programme combines scientific training with the opportunity to undertake secondments at another academic organisation, as well as at a non-academic company, fostering collaboration between academia and industry and expanding networking opportunities. This allows the fellows to gain a comprehensive understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of their research. Participation in secondments could enhance the fellows' career readiness, research and communication skills, networking, and their perception of practical research, which can contribute to better future career prospects.
The Talent4Iberia programme also impacts research excellence regionally and across Europe by fostering collaboration between universities and industry. This helps strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem, as Spanish local companies participate in the project through advanced research and training activities.
The Talent4Iberia programme also impacts research excellence regionally and across Europe by fostering collaboration between universities and industry. This helps strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem, as Spanish local companies participate in the project through advanced research and training activities.