1.1. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, Stuttgart: Steinbeis Europa Zentrum (SEZ) stands for 35 years of experience in innovation consulting and research funding in Europe and beyond. With more than 80 EU projects and around 800 partnerships in 50 countries every year, SEZ is well networked and helps its clients to enter international markets.

Well-connected with international partners and networks, SEZ works with companies, start-ups, universities, research institutions and cluster initiatives on issues of innovation management, financing, EU applications, international markets, regional and social transformation and innovation policy. SEZ´s activities are focused on research management for European funding, including grants for business and researchers, EIC-accelerators, Enterprise in Europe, among others. 

The topics covered are: digitalization and industry 4.0; agriculture, bioeconomy & environment; health; climate, energy, mobility & smart cities; culture, creativity & inclusive society; transformation.  

1.2. Ferdinand Steinbeis Institute, Stuttgart: Their activities are focused on research management for transformation by digitisation, dual research and business, including 7 key areas of research: Industry 4.0/AloT;  competing eco systems and shifting value creation; cooperative data spaces; digitalisation and society; atomisation and trustworthiness, digitisation and craftsmanship; transformation; new business models; along with innovation and management for knowledge transfer.

1.3. Steinbeis School of Sustainable Innovation and Transfer, Berlin: Steinbeis-SIT´s mission is to serve as a research and education hub, bridging the gap between green and digital transformation. Steinbeis-SIT, affiliated with Steinbeis University GmbH, dedicates itself to delivering exceptional educational programs and offering guidance in innovation and transformation within the realm of sustainable management. 

SIT´s comprehensive strategy highlights the critical connections between sustainability, technology, and human behavior, offering a path toward a more resilient and equitable future. Their activities are focused on research management for aspiring professionals in both industry and academia, this includes bespoke transfer knowledge management and transformation with deep tech such as AI and DLT, as much as social and culture change and well-being for a sustainable future.

1.4. Steinbeis Transfer Center Polymer and metal-based lightweight design: The main areas of activities include: 

  • Lightweight construction methods with integrated functions
  • Feasibility studies on the optimization of load and structures
  • Manufacturing processes for plastics and metals
  • Material properties of plastics and metals

Their activities start from the initial idea to prototyping, technical implementation, design, and simulation, as well as manufacturing and testing of function-integrative multi-material design methods with fiber-plastic composites and metals.

1.5. Steinbeis Research Center Inventional Medical Technology and Telemedicine, Magdeburg: Services Analysis, testing and evaluation of interventional medical technologies Consulting in the development of medical technologies Applied research and development up to series production Seminars, courses, training in the field of interventional medical technology Expert reports. This includes key areas:

  • inter-operative imaging, 
  • interventional medical technology MRT, 
  • compatibility signal and image processing, 
  • Telemedicine, (particularly in stroke cases).

1.6. Steinbeis Research Institute for Solar and Sustainable Thermal Energy Systems (SOLITES), Stuttgart: Their activities is focused on research for thermal energy systems that contribute significantly to reducing CO2 emissions, along with a range of services  for the purpose of basic and applied research, project development, technical concept development, system simulation, design and optimization of complex thermal energy systems by simulation, scientific-technical accompaniment of planning, tendering, commissioning and construction, operation optimization, measurement data analysis and evaluation as well as support. In addition it also provides advice for political initiatives and market development.

1.7. Open to options / Not decided yet/ Initiative application – Steinbeis is a large network covering different industry & research fields, and we can help you to define your profile of interest.

CERIC-ERIC  CERIC integrates and provides open access to 8 of the most advanced analytical facilities in Europe to help science and industry advance in all fields of materials, biomaterials and nanotechnology, with a focus on energy materials and life sciences. Here you can find the secondment opportunities for research support staff  and for research staff (academics): 

2.1. For Research Support Staff and Academics. CERIC-ERIC​ Headquarters (Italy, Trieste).

We offer the opportunity to work temporarily at CERIC Headquarters  that manages different research-support activities among them:

  • The open access to its research facilities, addressing researchers from all over the world requiring the use of one or more complementary techniques. The Consortium also offer industry access to the RIs managing a diversified portfolio of tailored services
  • A portfolio of projects of different kinds, including EU Funded projects, to maintain the consortium competitive. Project activities include training networks, instrumentation upgrade, capacity building, infrastructure development and more
  • The communication of the institutional and scientific results deriving from the access and of the specific joint scientific and technological activities of the CERIC Research Infrastructures, helping to increase its visibility.

For more information please click here

2.2 For Research Staff (Academics).  CERIC-ERIC Romanian Facility: Laboratory of Atomic Structures and Defects in Advanced Materials (LASDAM)-National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP)  (Romania, Margurele):

The Romanian Partner Facility of CERIC  offers the opportunity to work temporarily at  the Laboratory of Atomic Structures and Defects in Advanced Materials (LASDAM) at the National Institute of Materials Physics (NIMP). LASDAM research mainly directed towards the investigation and manipulation of physical properties at nanometric and atomic scale for the development of new materials (dielectrics, semiconductors, alloys, ceramics) for applications in the semiconductor industry (gas sensors, optical sensors, memories, radiation detectors), telecommunications, energy conversion, health and environment. Special interest is  in characterization of nanostructured materials for environmental health (gas sensors, (photo)catalysts for pollutants degradation), batteries, nanomaterials for theranostics.

For more information please click here

2.3 For Research Staff (Academics). CERIC-ERIC Slovenian Facility: NMR centre National Institute of Chemistry​ (Slovenia, Ljubljana)

Slovenian NMR centre offers infrastructure and expertise in the field of NMR spectroscopy to scientists and researchers in academic and industrial institutions. The research program of the NMR centre includes data acquisition and interpretation for those who apply NMR in their research as part of basic and applied research projects or in industry itself. For Researchers we offer secondments on NMR spectroscopy for chemical analysis and identification, for determining 3D structures and studying the dynamics of small and larger bio-macro-molecules, for tracking chemical reactions in analytical and bioanalytical procedures, for studying polycrystallinity and identifying metabolites and various amorphous forms.  The main focus is 3D structural characterization of DNA and RNA molecules as well as characterization of small organic compounds.

For more information please click here

2.4 For Research Staff (Academics) CERIC Italian Partner Facility: SISSI-BIO offline Laboratory – Elettra Synchrotron ( Italy, Trieste)

The SISSI-Bio offline laboratory is an infrared vibrational spectroscopy laboratory. It is equipped with several instruments for FTIR spectroscopy in the MIR-FIR regime, FTIR imaging with both single point and bidimensional Focal Plane array detectors, Optical Photothermal expansion IR spectroscopy (O-PTIR) and imaging and IR nanoscopy (scattering-type scanning near filed microscope, s-SNOM, and Photo Thermal Expansion, PTE). The laboratory instrumentations allow to cover spatial resolution from the macro to the nanoscale, considering both micrometer and sub-micrometre ranges.

The large variety of instruments and accessories makes it possible to cover research fields very different, such as biophysics, hyperspectral cytology and histology, environmental science and marine biology, new material research and many others.

For more information please click here

2.5 For Research Staff (Academics) CERIC Italian Partner Facility: Tomolab-Elettra Synchrotron (Italy, Trieste)

Tomolab is the X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) laboratory at Elettra. Micro-CT is one of the most advanced techniques in the field of nondestructive evaluation tests. It allows imaging of the internal microstructure of different objects and materials, measuring the three-dimensional (3D) X-ray attenuation coefficient map of the sample. X-ray micro-CT represents a powerful investigation tool in many different applications, especially in the area of material science as well as geology or biomaterials, Studies have recently been conducted, for example, to:

  • define the morphology of recycled materials;
  • establish the state of conservation and find functional-pathological indications of ancient bone samples;
  • evaluate different approaches to dental implantology;
  • analyze volcanic and reservoir rocks;
  • trace the growth of plants over time.

For more information please click here

2.6 For Research Staff (Academics) CERIC Italian Partner Facility: NanoInnovation Lab (NIL)-  Elettra Synchrotron (Italy, Trieste)

NIL main activities are based on Atomic Force Microscopy/Fluorescence Microscopy integrated setup to study biological interactions at the molecular, cellular and tissue scales, with the full control of physiological parameters.  Through nanoindentation spectroscopy, we obtain detailed information on cell and tissue biomechanics at high resolution (i.e. with subcellular details), to study the progression of diseases, such as cancer, and to evaluate the effect of specific therapies. Also, the lab has developed biomimetic models of plasma membranes with increasing level of complexity, synergistically studied with AFM, X-ray and neutron scattering techniques, for the evaluation of nanovesicles (in particular extracellular vesicles, EVs) and nanoparticles uptake mechanisms, in relation to membrane parameters as order and fluidity

For more information please click here

3.1. ASTP HQ, Leiden, NL

ASTP is the premier, non-profit, pan-European association for professionals involved in knowledge transfer between universities and industry. ASTP has spent the last 25 years since it was founded in 2000 enhancing the impact of public research on society and the economy with training, advocacy and capacity-building for this profession and the European innovation ecosystem. Comprises 1800 members from circa 50 countries plus a formal network of 33 national associations of TT/KT, representing around 8000 professionals. The ASTP community is driven by its members who provide practical content for the design and delivery of all the training, professional development and network events.

Its headquarters, based in Leiden, the Netherlands, is staffed with a professional team of 10 person supporting all the activities of the association. Secondment opportunities open access to directly participate in the planning, consultation with members and direct access to all the active communities across the membership such as the Special Interest Groups as well as networking events, training and policy driven activities concerning upskilling and recognition of the professional KT (knowledge transfer) sector.

The aim of secondment experiences at ASTP is to expose secondees to opportunities to increase their understanding of a range of different aspects of the knowledge transfer processes and skills required. 

The practical experiences will include a combination of the following, with the opportunity to focus on areas of particular interest to the secondees reflecting the sectors they work in (such life sciences or ICT etc.) and also the particular roles and responsibilities they have (such as managing IP or seeking licensing partners or driving spin-off creation). 

The activities will be structured to reflect not only the different areas of activity but also the different levels of experience and competence which the secondees have at the start. The opportunity structures will  include the following elements:

  1. Training : acquisition of (enhanced) skills in KT- direct involvement in any direct trainings offered by ASTP during the period of the secondment; a range of both in-person or online training and networking activities take place each month throughout the year so decisions taken depending upon which months the secondee spends in Leiden (see Professional Development).
  2. Strategic Identification of added Training themes: opportunity to identify additional training spheres where new training content could be developed or piloted; this could include working closely with one or more of the Special Interest Groups supported by ASTP. See Special Interest Groups (SIGs);
  3. Pilot new soft skills training: opportunity to pilot new soft skills training packages relevant for KT professionals;
  4. Visit local Dutch-based Knowledge Transfer offices: opportunity to visit local KT staff and exchange experiences with established KT offices in local university environments such as Leiden, Amsterdam, Delft or Rotterdam;
  5. Mentoring Program: Opportunity to contribute to the design/development of KT(O) leadership competence building with mentoring structures, leadership competence skill packages identified and policy-writing.
  6. KT Policy : Opportunity to engage in policy development including identifying and working on key themes for the sector being addressed at national or European level such as career recognition, career development structures in public sector institutions, metrics and key performance indicators for KT/KTOs or other topics.

For each of these areas of activity there is additional information available.

Applicants are invited to indicate which sectors they are interested in, which levels of existing experience they have in KT and which range of activities they are most interested to pursue while on secondment at ASTP.