NEXTSTEP is a Horizon Europe MSCA co-funded Doctoral Programme with five implementing partners, ESRF, ILL, FZJ, NTNU and AREA, located in four countries, France, Germany, Norway and Italy. 

NEXTSTEP will train 36 young researchers to exploit the unique and transversal capabilities of analytical research infrastructures (RIs) in tackling the challenges associated with sustainable development and industrial competitiveness in the areas of “Health”, “Digital, Industry & Space”, “Climate, Energy and Mobility” and “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”, which are at the heart of Horizon Europe.

The programme has Horizon Europe MSCA support from the call HORIZON-MSCA-2023-COFUND-01. The programme duration is five years, starting from 1 November 2024 and ending 31 October 2029. 

NEXTSTEP is the second MSCA cofund supported project with ESRF and ILL joining forces. The InnovaXN programme (www.innovaxn.eu) preceeded NEXTSTEP and has set the standard for NEXTSTEP to build upon. 

The NEXTSTEP PhD projects are being built individually with project partners from industry, research and technology organisations (RTOs) and academia. Students will be hosted by the five implementing partners, but may be registered at universities across any European country, and will have a secondment opportunity to one or more of the project partners. The first round of student recruitment will open in March, with the first student cohort starting in September. A second round will complete project selection and recruitment in 2026. 

Implementing partners

ESRF - European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France (www.esrf.fr)

ILL - Institute Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France (www.ill.eu)

FZJ - Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany (https://www.fz-juelich.de/en)

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway (www.ntnu.edu)

AREA - Area Science Park, Trieste, Italy (www.areasciencepark.it)