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New opportunities in innovation and technology transfer in France

The French innovation landscape has rapidly evolved in recent years. Our research labs work with small and large companies, and operate in national, European and international networks. A National Investment Plan has been implemented in order to increase the efficiency and visibility of the technology transfer system in France. Testimonies of French programs will include:

• The Industrial PhD Program (Cifre) which encourages translational research and boosts exchanges between laboratories and companies
• Technology clusters which link research and innovation, research labs, start-ups and big industrial actors on specific topics (Life Science, Healthcare, Energy, ...)
• An international hub for micro and nanotechnology research, the GIANT innovation campus in Grenoble
• The Carnot Institutes fostering research cooperation between public institutions and companies.

Go Nordic!

The Nordic session of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden will focus on the uniqueness of the Nordic region and on the excellent Northern research environments. The session will offer an introduction to the five relatively small countries with open, but highly competitive economies and to the excellence in research, innovation and higher education, which the Nordic countries can offer. The session will also highlight other Nordic specialities - such as the ‘flexsecurity’ of the modern welfare state, the clean environment, equality, secure societies and the healthy way of living in the Nordic countries under the midnight sun in the summer and amongst snow in the winter.

I.3 - Portugal: Atlantic Connection!

Portugal is increasingly living up to its reputation as a land of explorers and innovators. In biomedical research, in ICT, in energy and in space-related technology, to name but a few, R&D centres in Portugal are pulling their weight and attracting ever more international scientists to join a thriving and forward-looking scientific and technological system.

Speakers in this session will illustrate some of the world-class research carried out in Portugal, with state-of-the-art infrastructures and resources and within intellectually stimulating and international environments.

Advances and opportunities in three research areas will be addressed: biotechnology, the future Internet, and deep-sea research.

Participants are encouraged to ask questions and talk to the scientists on career opportunities in RD&I in Portugal.

European Research Council – Funding opportunities in Europe for creative minds from anywhere in the world

The session aims to present European Research Council (ERC) funding opportunities available for both early-career top researchers and senior research leaders. Set up in 2007, the ERC is the first pan-European funding organisation for frontier research. It aims to stimulate scientific excellence in Europe by encouraging competition for funding between the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age. The ERC operates according to an "bottom-up", approach, allowing researchers to identify new opportunities in any field of research. The ERC is the newest, pioneering component of the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme ('Ideas' Specific Programme), has a total budget of €7.5 billion from 2007 to 2013. By challenging the brightest minds, the ERC grants will help to broaden Europe's knowledge base and bring about new discoveries to meet tomorrow's global challenges. An ERC Starting Grant holder will be present to talk about his/her ERC funded research project, as well as his/her experience as an ERC awardee.

European universities on the move - excellence through research and innovation

The session will focus on the rapidly changing environment in European universities and their growing importance for Europe’s research and innovation landscape. Europe’s universities

• are responsible for training and offering career opportunities in research for growing numbers of highly qualified graduates and young researchers;
• to achieve this end they are rapidly developing structured doctoral programmes, graduate schools and collaborative doctoral programmes with external partners across the continent;
• have increasingly diverse profiles and missions that focus on both basic and collaborative research;
• have the unique capacity to be able to foster interdisciplinary research, skills and expertise;
• are rapidly developing their international competitiveness through growing numbers of research alliances, collaborations and other networking activities, focusing among other things on addressing the grand challenges and funded both through national and European programmes;
• make a key contribution to the growth and prosperity of cities and regions across the continent, driving social and economic development and knowledge exchange.

Meet the Secretaries General of Europe’s leading university associations, the European University Association (EUA) and the League of European Research Universities (LERU) who will present a range of different examples of how European universities are strengthening their research and innovation profiles, and seeking to attract more talented young researchers.

Advance your Academic Career in Germany

Explore funding opportunities for postdoctoral and junior faculty positions in Germany. This session will introduce you to main German research institutions, and experts from Germanyʼs science funding organizations will explain funding schemes and how to apply. Successful grant holders will provide first-hand testimonials about the application process and the experience of working in Germany. This session is targeted to doctoral and postdoctoral students. Information about Masterʼs programs and opportunities to earn a doctoral degree in Germany may also be covered according to interest.

Marie Curie Actions: your research career in Europe

This presentation will introduce the audience to the various opportunities the Marie Curie Actions offer to researchers to come to Europe as a researcher. The presentation will guide the audience through the three ways of participating: (i) by applying directly to a vacancy in a project, (ii) by applying for an individual fellowship or (iii) by joining with a consortium of European Researchers to exchange staff between Europe and the US. The presentation will also overview the levels of funding and support available for the participating researchers.

Two US Marie Curie fellows who have moved directly from the US to Europe via a Marie Curie fellowship will talk about their experiences, in particular they will share with the how their research experience in Europe with the Marie Curie Actions has advanced their career and their personal life.

Switzerland Grants for Research & Mobility Fellowships

Advice and support on mobility to Switzerland. Detailed information of programs for doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships offered by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) open to researchers of all nationalities. Programs include: international exploratory workshops, international short visits, Ambizione-PROSPER, Ambizione-SCORE, fellowships for prospective researchers, fellowships for advanced researchers.

Research&Go! Poland.

Welcome to Poland! Join us to learn everything you always wanted to know about Poland and its research funding system!

During this unique break-out session we would like to:

• tell you about the country and the story of its success;
• offer an overview of Poland's R&D potential, its research priorities and activities;
• present funding agencies and their programmes as well as other key institutions (among others in natural and medical sciences);
• introduce real people ready to talk about their research experience in Poland and their cooperation with Polish scientists;
• discuss opportunities for partnerships between US and Polish/European researchers.

Switching Gears to Applied Research: Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Germany

This session will describe career pathways in applied research and industry in Germany. You will learn about opportunities for scientists at Fraunhofer Institutes and the Fraunhofer Associationʼs model of close collaboration with companies and universities. Experts will summarize funding opportunities designed to help you to transition to industry and/or found your own company. A panel of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs who successfully transferred to careers in industry will provide testimonials and represent well-known German companies. The session is targeted to doctoral and postdoctoral students.

Your Next Step in Excellence: The Netherlands, at the Heart of Europe

The Netherlands is conveniently located in between - and very well connected to - the three major economies in Europe: France, Germany and the UK and is easily accessible by numerous direct air connections to the USA. It is also a small and comprehensible country stretching only 200 miles north to south and having just under 17 million inhabitants who speak English (as a second language).

For such a small country, The Netherlands has a remarkably high “Academic footprint”. This is exemplified by being ranked third in number citations per publication and more than half of all scientific output is the result of international collaboration. The Dutch exploratory and entrepreneurial nature creates a stimulating environment for researchers and scientists in a very international environment. Be it in academia, the industry or at the crossroads of these two.

Whether you are an undergrad looking for a (nearly always funded) PhD, seeking tenure or want to pursue an applied science career in industry, the Netherlands has it all. In this session we’ll tell you about all the practicalities like funding, how to find science jobs, the jobs market for partners, housing etc. in order to get you towards Your Next Steps in Excellence.

European Research Council – Funding opportunities in Europe for creative minds from anywhere in the world

The session aims to present European Research Council (ERC) funding opportunities available for both early-career top researchers and senior research leaders. Set up in 2007, the ERC is the first pan-European funding organisation for frontier research. It aims to stimulate scientific excellence in Europe by encouraging competition for funding between the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age. The ERC operates according to an "bottom-up", approach, allowing researchers to identify new opportunities in any field of research. The ERC is the newest, pioneering component of the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme ('Ideas' Specific Programme), has a total budget of €7.5 billion from 2007 to 2013. By challenging the brightest minds, the ERC grants will help to broaden Europe's knowledge base and bring about new discoveries to meet tomorrow's global challenges. An ERC Starting Grant holder will be present to talk about his/her ERC funded research project, as well as his/her experience as an ERC awardee.

France, the place to be for research excellence and lifestyle

France offers many opportunities for young and senior researchers in laboratories of excellence, universities, and research infrastructures, in all scientific fields (biology, environment, agriculture, materials, ICT, social sciences, etc.). France’s labs work together, partner with small and large companies, and operate in national, European and international networks. Every year, hundreds of foreign researchers come to France - and French scientists return to France - to work in French labs and enjoy the French “art de vivre”.

Visit us in San Francisco to discover these opportunities and meet French researchers, representatives of the big research organizations (CNRS, INSERM, INRA, CNES, INRIA, etc.) and the universities.

French research wants you!

IV.2 - The European Institute of Innovation and Technology: what’s in it for me?

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) aims at boosting the innovation capacity of Europe. It operates via Knowledge Innovation Communities (KICs). These are highly integrated partnerships of excellent European higher education institutions, research centres, business and other innovation stakeholders, working together on major societal challenges: climate change mitigation and adaptation ('Climate-KIC'), sustainable energy ('KIC InnoEnergy'), and the future information and communication society ('EIT ICT Labs').

In this session you will be informed about the possibilities of taking part and benefiting of KICs' education, innovation and entrepreneurship programmes. If you are a dynamic and creative student, researcher or young entrepreneur, willing to work in some of the most prestigious European universities and companies, in multidisplinary and multi-cultural teams, this is a session you cannot miss.

In this session you will have the opportunity to meet EIT ICT Labs' Chief Executive Officer, discuss the education opportunities with Climate-KIC offers, and share your views with a KIC InnoEnergy young entrepreneur. The session will feature interactive presentations, with video testimonials and an open debate.

The UK: Leading the way in innovative research

The UK provides a supportive research environment for career researchers at all levels in both the public and private sector. This session will introduce the audience to the range of graduate opportunities in research, support offered to mid-career researchers and research opportunities in the private sector. Featuring panellists with knowledge of international research mobility as well perspectives from UK degree holders who are working in both the US and UK, this session showcases the UK as a country that leads in innovative research. Meghan Steed, British Council, Dr. Jamie Walters, Stanford University, Marisa Montalvo, UK Trade & Investment Life Sciences and Professor John Findlay, University of Leeds will inform about your opportunities.

Ireland as a world-class research & business destination

Would you like to find out why Ireland is now ranked 3rd in the world in Immunology research, 8th in Materials research and 11th in Computer Science and why so many fast growth companies like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Zynga chose Ireland as a location to expand and internationalise their business?

Ireland’s dynamic RD&I sector is driven by an exceptional level of collaboration between industry, academia, government agencies and regulatory authorities. Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the national research foundation, in partnership with IDA Ireland, Ireland’s inward investment promotion agency, will provide a practical overview on why Ireland is a world class research and business destination. The session will include testimonials from entrepreneurs and researchers who have recognised Ireland’s strengths and have chosen to locate their activities in this dynamic ecosystem.

SFI will give an overview of its funding schemes to support academic scientists and engineers working in the fields of science and engineering that underpin biotechnology, information and communications technology and sustainable energy and energy-efficient technologies. SFI will give an overview of their current funding.

IDA Ireland will outline how they capitalize on this research capability in attracting Foreign Direct Investment.