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EU TALENTON

‘SCIENCE
NEEDS AN
ENTREPRENEURIAL
APPROACH’

Over three days, young international scientists were challenged to come up with solutions to the major issues of our time.

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Mariya Gabriel

European Commission

''This year Leiden will be a bridge, sharing science, knowledge, art and skills building new connections between science and society in innovative and open ways.''

November 8th 2022. Author: Sophie Zimmerman.

Header picture: Shot by Monique Shaw. 'Jackie Ashkin of Team Coastbusters with their prototype'

LEIDEN – By connecting science and society more closely, we can create collaborations and conceive ideas that enable us to meet the challenges of our time. This idea is central in Leiden this year, as the European City of Science 2022. “By bringing people together in playful ways and allowing them to learn from each other, we create connections that can actually bring about change,” Lucien Geelhoed, intendant at Leiden2022, says.

Geelhoed and his team were asked by the European Commission to organise a brand new event for talented scientists between the ages of 21 and 35. As a result, The EU TalentOn was born. In September, Leiden hosted a three-day event in which talented international researchers came together to tackle the major challenges of our time. Out of the 700 applicants, 104 top talents were ultimately selected to participate.

Team 'Game, Set, Adapt!' hard at work in Mission Arena 1: Adaption to Climate Change. - photo credits: Maarten Nauw

An entrepreneurialapproach

The development of entrepreneurial skills in these young scientists was one of the most important missions of this event, explains Geelhoed. “There is an enormous amount of talent at European universities, but because the path to a career in business is not obvious, their knowledge doesn’t always get put to use — even though students belong to the generation that can really make a difference.

We wanted to add an entrepreneurial perspective to the skillset of young researchers and build a bridge between their talent, science, and innovative business.”

During the TalentOn, young scientists were challenged to team up and work on innovative solutions for the five EU Missions: Climate Adaptation, Beating Cancer, Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, Achieving Healthy Soils, and Restoring Oceans and Waters. Specialists from each field and industry were brought in for each mission. For example, the Danish serial entrepreneur Henrik Scheel — mission navigator during this first edition — was a coach for the participants. “With more than 15 years of experience in Silicon Valley, he is now an expert in entrepreneurial thinking; something that still needs to earn a spot in many scientific fields,” says Geelhoed.

Team 'Game, Set, Adapt!' hard at work in Mission Arena 1: Adaption to Climate Change. - photo credits: Maarten Nauw

Elisabeth Kerr pitching the idea of her team, 'Root Campers', during the Public Pitches - photo credits: Ilsoo van Dijk

Connection

'Bright Ribbons' isn’t the only team currently investigating whether they can actually develop their idea. The first overall winner of the EU TalentOn, the 'Soilfix' team, also wants to make their idea a reality. The same goes for the 'Coastbusters' team, who hope to develop their idea to use LED lamps to illuminate fishing nets, reducing bycatch by 95%.

Creating long-lasting collaborations like these is exactly what creator Geelhoed had in mind for this event.

“These bright young minds are the future. By connecting them with each other, but also with experts from their fields and key players from the industry, a foundation has been laid upon which they can continue to build together. Science only truly comes alive when connections are made.”

European City of Science

This first successful edition also sets the tone for future editions. Every two years, the European Commission plans to award the responsibility of hosting the EU TalentOn to a different European city. In 2024, this honour will go to the Polish city of Katowice, which will then also bear the title of European City of Science.

Leiden2022 European City of Science

Leiden European City of Science 2022 is a 365-day science festival packed with activities, lectures, workshops, excursions, exhibitions, and events, for anyone with a curious mind, the goal of which is to connect science and society.

In September, Leiden2022 presented a special Bright Young Minds week, with the EU Talenton, the 33rd final of the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) and an event for children with Yuval Noah Harari. Leiden2022 is a partner of the European Year of Youth.

For more information contact Leiden&partners at marketing@leidenenpartners.nl or +31 71 516 600.
Leiden2022 is an initiative of the Municipality of Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden University Medical Center and the Leiden University of Applied Sciences, supported by the European Commission and many local, national and international partners.