EIT Food RIS Fellowships

The Activity Line is divided into 2 complementary programmes – RIS Fellowships dedicated to Master of Science students and graduates and RIS Talents dedicated to Ph.D. students and postdocs from EIT RIS countries.

Apply now for the RIS Fellowships

Apply now for the RIS Talents

About : Develop your talent with top agri-food players during a paid internship in the EU!

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.

Applications clearly made solely using AI text generation and un-proof read will not be accepted and rejected.

Click here for the RIS Fellowships

Click here for the RIS Talents

Advantages : The Benefits of the Internship

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

Career Opportunities :

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

“The RIS Fellowship was a unique opportunity to apply my knowledge in real-life situations, develop my professional problem-solving skills and gain valuable experience in the food industry.Moreover, EIT Food is a gateway to a very strong network with other participants and people from both industry and academia, who all share the same ambition to improve the food system. ”

Clara Lledo Morell, RIS Fellowships Alumna & Jury Member Food Solutions

Click here to read Clara's full story and experience with RIS Fellowships

Career Opportunities : Laura's experience - RIS Fellowships Internship @Bioazul S.L. Spain

What was the best part of you internship experience?

Bioazul S.L. proved to be an excellent fit for my professional growth. The team was highly supportive, and my supervisor provided regular, constructive feedback that significantly enhanced my skills throughout the internship. Relocating to Málaga was a rewarding experience, both personally and professionally, as I spent three months building meaningful connections, many of whom I am still in touch with.

What kind of work did you do?

I worked in 2 EU projects, which allowed me to closely collaborate with several international partners. My responsibilities included revising business plans for selected Key Exploitable Results (KERs), preparing project deliverables, and researching wastewater and desalination in the Mediterranean area.

How you developed you competencies during an internship?

Thanks to the guidance of my colleagues and supervisor, I developed new expertise in project management and science-based writing. The three months I spent abroad during my internship also significantly improved my Spanish language proficiency, as well as my intercultural and communication skills.

What was the best most valuable experience that you got?

We spend many hours every day working, yet I always underestimated the impact of the working environment on our daily lives. During my internship, I experienced a very nice work-life balance and supportive office atmosphere, which is now a key priority for me when looking for job opportunities.

How did the internship impact your career growth?

During my internship, I acquired valuable skills that enabled me to secure additional positions within the agricultural sector. I also discovered a genuine passion for water management, which led me to focus my thesis on watershed governance. I am currently working toward its publication.

Would you recommend the EIT Food RIS Fellowships to others?

Definitely, it is an incredible opportunity to gain professional skills, while experiencing all the benefits of intercultural exchange.

What you'll learn : Competencies

Communication

Actively listening and clearly communicate..
Eliminate unnecessary communication noise.
Build understanding and trust in the team and motivate team members.

Problem solving

Analyze and examine mistakes made as part of the work of the team.
Create optimal solutions based on the available data.
Implement strategic streamlining and optimization of processes.

Critical thinking

Develop ability to react quickly and efficiently in a crisis.
Separate facts and data from intuitive opinions.
Formulate plans based on good practices and draw conclusions.

Learn more about our competency framework

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

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.