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We invite newly appointed lecturers and independent research fellows who are within 2-10 years of experience since completion of PhD*, from engineering, natural sciences, medicine and/or business, to apply to the European Talent Academy 2027.

2027 theme – Human-Centred Innovation for Future Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Environments 

Application deadline: 30 November, 18:00 (CET) / 5:00 PM (GMT)

Human-centred innovation places people, communities, and their lived experiences at the heart of research and development, creating solutions that are meaningful, accessible, and sustainable. This call invites researchers from diverse disciplines to explore new approaches that advance health, wellbeing, and quality of life across all stages of the human lifespan. We particularly encourage applications that address social inclusion, equity, and the design of environments that enable participation, independence, and resilience. Candidates should be willing to engage with contemporary societal challenges addressing inclusivity and accessibility.

Connecting strategic policy priorities from upcoming European Union Work Programmes, we are zooming in on health and wellbeing, inclusive and climate-resilient spaces, trustworthy AI and advanced materials. The programme will encourage collaboration across disciplines to address a shared question:

How can we ensure that scientific and technological progress translates into social justice, addressing inclusivity challenges, and better lives for all living creatures?

Through this call, we seek to foster innovative research that contributes to healthier, more inclusive, and human-centred futures and develop proposals for further research collaboration.

Participation offers the opportunity to:

• Connect with other º£½ÇÉçÇø, Poli Milano, and TUM group leaders doing work in complementary research areas and form important networks for future collaboration.
• Start thinking early in careers about research leadership and accessing research funding to support career and research goals.
• Attend training and gain information about research funding available to support UK-EU research collaborations.
• Start building a portfolio of collaborative applications and funding for future Horizon Europe and other funding proposal calls.

Each institution will pay for the costs of its selected early career researchers to participate in the programme, including travel for in-person sessions. We anticipate having 8 participants from each institution, maximum 24 participants total. 

Background

Imperiaand TUM formed a strategic partnership in 2018. . As entrepreneurial universities focused on science and technology and with strong connections to industry, the three universities are well-positioned to collaborate. All three universities are committed to supporting early career researchers in establishing UK-EU networks for research and innovation. 

TUM launched the European Talent Academy in 2020-21, and the programme has thus far had over >100 ECRs participate from the three institutions. 

Previous themes were the EU Green Deal, Trustworthy AI, Lifelong Health and Climate, Energy and Mobility, Water and Food for Healthy and Resilient Societies, Smart and Healthier Cities on a Changing Planet.

Theme for 2027

To guarantee that the participants have a thematic research link and that the presented funding instruments are tailored to their needs and interests, the European Talent Academy will be based on an annual topic.

The theme for 2027 is: Human-Centred Innovation for Future Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Environments

Eligible ECRs working on this topic from any disciplinary area are encouraged to apply.  At º£½ÇÉçÇø, this means we welcome applications from across our four faculties, as long as the research connects to the programme’s theme.

º£½ÇÉçÇø’s strategy emphasises combining expertise across science, engineering, medicine and business to improve lives, strengthen health, and create solutions that benefit society through collaboration and innovation. This year theme’s focus on designing health, wellbeing and environmental solutions around people’s needs directly reflects º£½ÇÉçÇø’s commitment to “power research” through connected, interdisciplinary approaches and to “amplify impact” by translating research into practical benefits for communities.

Its emphasis on inclusivity, user-centred design, wellbeing and equitable outcomes also supports º£½ÇÉçÇø’s ambition to be a force for good, ensuring that innovation is not only technically excellent but responsive to the diverse experiences and needs of the people it serves.

Key words

Health & Wellbeing Innovation

Women's health – Women’s spaces – Innovation for Mental Health and Wellbeing – Microplastics and Micropollutants – Health impact of climate change – Inclusive access to medical treatments – Personalised healthcare for inclusiveness – prevention medicine – innovation for healthy long living – Innovation for food security

Innovation for inclusive and climate resilient spaces

Urban Design for Environmental Justice – Anti-exclusionary spaces – Innovations for Populations at Risk – Critical Infrastructure – Infrastructure Resilience – Risk Management – Disaster Resilience – Sustainable Mobility – Climate Resilience – Environmental Monitoring – Urban Space Design for Inclusivity – Culturally Inclusive Design – Ecological Safety and Innovation – Agricultural Safety and Resilience – Food Chain Innovation – Sustainable Forestry

Trustworthy AI innovation

Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence – Public Trust – Value-based Research and Innovation – Tackling Science-Adversity – Accountability of Research & Innovation – Misinformation & Disinformation – Deepfakes – Sustainable Innovation Management – Digital Innovation – Digital Twins – AI Ethics – Human-Machine Interaction

New and Advanced Materials for people and planet

Critical Raw Materials – Sustainable Resources – Smart Sensors – Photonics – Materials for Quantum – Robotics – Wearable Technologies – Advanced Manufacturing – Sustainable Materials for Efficient Buildings – Biomedical Materials Innovation – Metamaterials – Cleantech – Materials for Energy Efficiency