Call for Proposals for Early Career Research Conferences (ECC)

Call for Proposals: Eu-SPRI Early Career Research Conferences (ECC)

The Eu-SPRI Forum invites member organisations to submit proposals for Early Career Research Conferences (ECC) to be organised by 31 December 2027 at the latest.

About the ECC Series

The Eu-SPRI Forum supports the intellectual and career development of early career researchers in science, technology and innovation policy (SPRI), including doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers. This support is provided through doctoral programmes, conferences, summer schools, and mobility opportunities across partner organisations.

The Early Career Research Conferences (ECC) are a central part of this mission.

ECC bring together outstanding early career researchers and established academics for exchanges on ongoing and emerging research in science, technology and innovation policy. The conferences are intentionally thematically open within the SPRI field, rather than focused on narrow topics.

ECC provide early career researchers with opportunities to:

  • Present and discuss their research in a supportive environment
  • Receive constructive feedback from established scholars
  • Engage in peer-to-peer exchange across institutions and countries
  • Build international academic networks within the SPRI community
  • Gain experience in critically engaging with the work of others

Format and Support

The Eu-SPRI Forum normally supports one to two ECC events per year.

Key parameters:

  • Typical size: 25 to 30 participants
  • Maximum financial support: up to €18,000 per conference
  • Funding covers organisation and all on-site participant costs (excluding travel costs)

Timeline

  • Submission deadline: 15 June 2026
  • Selection decision by Executive Committee: 30 June 2026
  • Latest possible timing for conferences: 31 December 2027

How to Apply

Proposals should be submitted by email to the Eu-SPRI Forum Secretariat:

Debbie Cox, Debbie Cox
debbie.cox@manchester.ac.uk

The Eu-SPRI Forum Executive Committee will review and select proposals based on quality, relevance, and contribution to the development of the early career community in SPRI research.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and supporting the next generation of science, technology, and innovation policy researchers across Europe.

Call for Expressions of Interest: Eu-SPRI Early Career Training Schools (ECTS) Series

Call for Expressions of Interest

Eu-SPRI Early Career Training Schools (ECTS) Series

The Eu-SPRI Forum invites expressions of interest from member organisations to contribute to a renewed Early Career Training Schools (ECTS) series.

This initiative will establish a regular, structured programme of training schools for early-career researchers, including PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and junior scholars working in science, technology, and innovation (STI) studies.

About the ECTS Series

The proposed ECTS series aims to strengthen and consolidate training in STI policy and innovation studies across Europe by developing a recurring set of thematic schools.

Its core objectives are to:

  • Further support a European training infrastructure in STI policy
  • Provide foundational training in key theories, methods, and approaches
  • Support researchers new to the field of STI studies
  • Strengthen the Eu-SPRI community through sustained interaction and collaboration

We envision a series of 4 to 5 recurring thematic training schools, each focusing on a core area of STI research and policy, delivered across different member organisations on a rotating basis.

Opportunity for Member Organisations

This call invites Eu-SPRI member organisations:

  • To join a core group of partners that will co-develop and shape the ECTS series, including curriculum design and thematic focus
  • To host or co-organise a training school as part of a rotating programme across the network

By participating, organisations will help build a long-term, coordinated European training infrastructure for the next generation of STI scholars.

Relationship to Existing Eu-SPRI Activities

The ECTS series is designed to complement existing Eu-SPRI initiatives, such as Early Career Conferences and topical training schools. Unlike one-off events, this new series aims to provide a more structured, continuous, and cumulative training offer for the field.

Timeline

  • Deadline for expressions of interest: 25 May 2026
  • A co-development workshop for invited core partners will be held during the Eu-SPRI Annual Conference 2026 in Valencia in Valencia

 

How to Apply

Please submit expressions of interest via informal email to:

Deborah Cox, Deborah Cox
deborah.cox@manchester.ac.uk

Contact for Questions

For any questions regarding this call, please contact:

Iris Wanzenböck, Iris Wanzenböck
i.wanzenbock@uu.nl