BOOST | Building Outstanding Opportunities for Science and Talent
The
BOOST project addresses the significant disparities in innovation capacity among the EU Widening Countries, primarily in Eastern Europe. Although these nations excel in academic research, they struggle to translate their achievements into commercially viable products and services. This gap negatively affects the social, financial, and environmental sustainability of these regions, limits economic growth, and exacerbates issues like brain drain and low career opportunities for researchers and innovators.
Addressing this challenge, BOOST aims to strengthen the R&I capabilities of Widening Countries by fostering collaboration between academic and non-academic sectors. It focuses on enhancing career opportunities and entrepreneurship by providing researchers with the skills needed to succeed in both academic and industrial settings. A key element is the creation of the
BOOST Learning Environment, which will facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among organizations across Europe, giving access to a rich database of tools, resources, and learning modules.
Central to the project is the implementation of the
BOOST ERA Talents Scheme, which provides 2-month mobility opportunities for 60 researchers, improving their practical skills through placements in industry settings. The scheme also includes five tailored learning modules, and each participant will receive a Personal Career Development Plan to support long-term career advancement. The project ensures that at least 30% of mobility participants will be women or individuals from underrepresented groups, addressing the imbalance that persists in R&I fields.
The BOOST consortium consists of 16 organizations involved in Highly Innovative sectors as technology, research, business providers and consultancy. They represent a perfect mix of academic and not academic institutions to promote intersectoral mobility and ensure the successful implementation of the project.
Coordinator: KLIYNTEH BULGARIA (BG)
At a glance:
BOOST
HORIZON EUROPE
Project Duration:
54 months
Project Start:
01/06/2025
Contact Person:
Dr Claudia Franze
Assistant Professor of Engineering Management / Project Manager
[email protected]
Open Call for Applications for International Secondments under the BOOST Project
The
BOOST project invites applications for international secondments aimed at supporting the professional development of researchers and strengthening collaboration between research and innovation actors across Europe. The programme offers participants the opportunity to gain experience in innovation-oriented environments, develop new competences, expand professional networks, and contribute to knowledge exchange between institutions.
Selected participants will take part in a mobility scheme consisting of three secondments of two months each over a period of two years between September 2026 and August 2028. Secondments will take place exclusively in foreign host organisations within the consortium (i.e. not in the country of the sending organisation). As part of the application, each candidate must indicate at least three preferred training modules. Final allocation will depend on the applicant’s profile, motivation, expertise, project priorities, and host capacity.
The BOOST programme is structured around five thematic training modules, delivered through a blended learning approach that combines online learning, mentoring, and practical application during secondments. An important element of the programme design is that, although each researcher will physically undertake secondments with at least three host organisations, all participants will benefit from the full set of training modules through the BOOST learning architecture, in line with their Personal Career Development Plans (PCDPs).
This ensures that every researcher receives comprehensive exposure to all planned learning content, regardless of the specific physical hosting pattern. While the online component guarantees access to the full thematic curriculum, the secondments will provide more in- depth practical exercises, hands-on learning, and tailored experience linked to the researcher’s profile, interests, and development needs.
The available training modules are:
- Circular business models (Cleantech Bulgaria – Bulgaria)
- Social Innovation for SMEs (Centre for Social Innovation – Cyprus)
- Investors and digital platforms (FastTrack Ventures – Portugal)
- Access to finance and related funding (RoHealth – Romania)
- Effective pitching and communication (Athena/Corallia – Greece)
The final secondment pathway for each selected participant will be defined through an individual Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP), developed jointly by the researcher, the sending institution and the host organisations.
The call is open to applicants affiliated with American University of Beirut Mediterraneo in the BOOST project. Eligible applicants may include early-stage and experienced researchers, as well as administrative, technical, or managerial staff supporting research and innovation activities, where applicable. Applicants must remain affiliated with their sending institution throughout the mobility period and actively participate in all secondment phases.
To be eligible, applicants must be formally affiliated with American University of Beirut Mediterraneo, have a profile relevant to the secondment scheme, demonstrate motivation and relevance to their current work and future development, indicate at least three host preferences, have the support of their supervisor or institutional authority, and commit to the programme, including any reporting and knowledge-sharing activities after return.
Applications must be submitted online through the official
Google Form. Applicants will be asked to provide personal and professional information, rank their preferred destinations, explain their motivation and expected impact, and upload the required supporting documents. The application package should include: completed online application form; CV; proof of affiliation with the sending institution.
BOOST is committed to equal opportunities, fairness, and inclusive participation. All applications will be assessed transparently and without discrimination.
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of the applicant’s profile and experience to the BOOST secondment objectives
- Quality and clarity of motivation and expected impact
- Alignment with the applicant’s current role and future career development
- Potential for knowledge transfer and institutional benefit
- Overall completeness and quality of the application
Deadline: 15 May 2026, 17:00 CET
Contact: [email protected]
