WOLFRAM2 · Attracting Postdoctoral Researchers in any Research Field to the Basque Country

Europe is in need of highly skilled researchers: an adequate supply of skilled human resources is vital for the European Research Area (ERA) development. More specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic has particularly damaged the career of early career researchers in Europe since job opportunities for them are rapidly diminishing during the pandemic. We cannot afford to lose a generation of early career researchers since they are the future of European science and technology-intensive economic sectors. WOLFRAM2 will recruit excellent junior researchers and equip them with the skillset to: i) answer to the need of the ERA, ii) fulfill the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and iii) contribute to the RIS3 strategy of the Basque Country.WOLFRAM2, which will run for 60 months, is framed around an already well and successfully established postdoctoral fellowship programme in the Basque region. Within the programme, the beneficiary, Ikerbasque, will offer 36 fellowship positions for incoming postdoctoral fellows of any nationality. Each fellowship/contract will last for 60 months, being implemented in the framework of WOLFRAM2 36 months. The remaining fellowship duration not covered by WOLFRAM2 (24 months) will be fully taken over by the hosting institutions and Ikerbasque on all terms (financial, training and supervision). The fellowship will be carried out at the 23 partner organisations which recruit and host the fellows. Each fellowship will be complemented by a secondment of up to 6 months at institutions outside of Spain, from a different sector, and of the fellows’ choice in line with their career development plan. WOLFRAM2 offers unique features regarding working and employment conditions, neither provided by other research private foundations or the Spanish government: 5 years contract with the possibility of achieving a permanent position, competitive financial allowances, international and intersectoral secondments.