EIT Food RIS Fellowships

The EIT Food Activity Line consists of two complementary programs RIS Fellowships and RIS Talents. Both programs aim to boost brain circulation and enhance innovation, knowledge, skills, and solutions in the food system. They do this by supporting the creation and spread of high-quality knowledge and solutions to food industry challenges.

EIT Food RIS Fellowships Activity Line is searching for young and passionate individuals from higher education:

• RIS Fellowships for MSc students, graduates, and entrepreneurs. Candidates will get the chance to apply their academic knowledge in real-world situations and develop their problem-solving skills at host organizations. The internship will allow them to gain hands-on experience in the food industry, enhancing their job-related skills and competencies. Interns will be involved in learning-by-doing activities, including internal projects and day-to-day tasks at their host company.
• RIS Talents for doctoral students and young post-docs. Interns will benefit from lessons learned in R&D work and will be encouraged to participate in industrial collaboration or entrepreneurship during their internship. They will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills by participating in innovation projects, R&D projects led by host organizations, or Horizon Europe projects.

The main goal of EIT Food RIS Fellowships is to:

• Enable students to put their knowledge into practice by gaining hands-on-experience in the agri-food industry to create a value for that sector.
• Strengthening students' professional skills and competencies development, including analytical thinking, creative problem solving and communication.
• Students learn good practices from industry experts and later, after completing the internship, they are able to implement entrepreneurial innovations and make valuable changes in their RIS home countries.
• Attract talents from outside the agri-food sector to educate young professionals who will bring a positive and meaningful impact to the food industry.

• Matching candidates with specific internship areas offered by hosting companies
• Hands-on experience in solving real work-related problems of organizations
• Development of skills like creative problem-solving and critical thinking
• Monthly gross grant of 1,500€ (Fellowships) - 2,000€ (Talents) to support expenses
• Mentorship from a high-profile expert in the field
• Exposure to different work methods and perspectives
• Enhancement of CV, contacts, and opportunities for professional life
• Cultural immersion and international exposure
• Opportunities for students and researchers from EIT Regional Innovation Scheme regions

Each year the various companies, research institutions and start-ups offer internships in the agri-food sector. In 2023 support as host companies offered e.g.:

• AGRICOLUS S.R.L. from Perugia, Italy,
• Alberts from Wijnegem, Belgium
• Aliga from Hjoerring, Denmark
• Austrian Competence Center for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation from Tulln, Austria
• AZTI from Bizkaia, Spain
• BGI – Building Global Investors from Lisboa, Portugal
• BIOAZUL SL from Málaga, Spain
• CSIC – Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas from Madrid, Spain
• DSM Food and Beverages Delft, the Netherlands
• Farm4trade SRL. from Pescara, Italy
• Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) from Olsztyn, Poland
• Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies in Food (IMDEA Food) from Madrid, Spain
• MAGFI from Zurrieq, Malta
• Mimica Lab from London, United Kingdom
• Puratos from Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium

It is divided into two programmes. One is the RIS Fellowships programme, which is dedicated for MSc students, graduates, and entrepreneurs. Candidates will get the chance to apply their academic knowledge in real-world situations and develop their problem-solving skills at host organizations. The internship will allow them to gain hands-on experience in the food industry, enhancing their job-related skills and competencies. Interns will be involved in learning-by-doing activities, including internal projects and day-to-day tasks at their host company. The second is RIS Talents proggrame, which is dedicated for doctoral students and young post-docs. Interns will benefit from lessons learned in R&D work and will be encouraged to participate in industrial collaboration or entrepreneurship during their internship. They will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills by participating in innovation projects, R&D projects led by host organizations, or Horizon Europe projects.