European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) - Traineeship 2025

The EIT is now launching a call for application for its traineeship programme for a period of six months for an intake at the beginning of 2025. 

The trainee will support the daily operations of the Directorate & Administration as well as the Innovation, Education & Communication and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities Departments.

What do we expect from you?

• Openness to European topics;

• Willingness to learn about the EIT and innovation in Europe;

• Contribution to our everyday work with fresh insights;

• A proactive attitude.

Eligibility criteria

Nationality

Candidates shall be selected from nationals of the Member States of the European Union (EU) , the Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) , and from candidate countries. In addition, a limited number of nationals from countries other than those listed above can also be accepted but should not exceed 20% of the total intake of trainees for the year. Candidates from countries other than those listed above in particular should explain in their motivation letter how they will contribute to the EIT's objectives.

The EIT is supporting those Ukrainian residents (recent graduates and young professionals) affected by the war in Ukraine, therefore their applications are also encouraged.

Qualification

Candidates must have completed, by the closing date for applications, the first cycle of university education and obtained a full degree or its equivalent (Annex I of the Rules governing the Traineeship Scheme of the EIT).

Candidates must provide copies of diplomas (or of relevant official certificates), of all university or post-university studies declared in their application. For declared ongoing studies an official declaration from the relevant university must be provided.

Applicants whose university or post-graduate diplomas are not issued in one of the official EU languages must provide a translation of these documents into English, the working language of the EIT. If recruited for a traineeship, presentation of all diplomas declared and, if applicable, official certified translations will be required.

Languages

In order to fully benefit from the traineeship and to be able to follow meetings and perform adequately:

• Candidates from EU Member States must have very good knowledge of English and another EU official language. Those whose mother tongue is English, are required to demonstrate a very good knowledge of another EU official language;

• Candidates from EEA/EFTA Member States, associated countries from Horizon 2020, candidate countries and from the USA, Japan, South Korea and the BRICS countries must have very good knowledge of English, the working language of the EIT.

Candidates will be required to provide the appropriate justification (i.e. diplomas, certificates, proof of having studied in the language in question, etc.) regarding the knowledge of languages declared on the application form, other than the mother tongue.

Conditions of employment

Trainees will be awarded a monthly grant. The net amount of the traineeship grant based on current salary adjustments is 1,466.98.EUR for Budapest and 1,701.83 EUR for Brussels.

Sickness and accident insurances are compulsory and the EIT does not provide such coverage. Trainees must take out these insurances and proof of the coverage must be presented to EIT HR prior to the start of the traineeship period.

Upon presentation of the proper justification, disabled trainees may receive a supplement to their grant equal to a maximum of 50% of the amount of the grant.

Recruited trainees will receive the following fixed travel grant to contribute to their travel expenses between the place of recruitment and place of employment:

• 300 euros, where the place of recruitment is in an EU member State;
• 400 euros, where the place of recruitment is outside of the EU.

The trainee must complete a minimum of three months of the traineeship period to qualify for the reimbursement of travel costs. Trainees whose place of recruitment is less than 50 km from the place of employment are not entitled to the reimbursement of travel costs. Request for reimbursement of travel expenses shall be submitted not later the 60 calendar days from the date of travel.

Grants awarded to trainees are not subject to the special tax regulations applying to officials and other servants of the European Union. Trainees are solely responsible for the payment of any taxes due on EIT grants by virtue of the laws in force in the country concerned. A certificate for tax purposes will be provided at the end of the traineeship period. This certificate should state the amount of grant received and confirm that tax and social security payments have not been made.