SECURE2 was presented at the Talent Ecosystems: Building Sustainable Research Careers event, organised by the European Research Executive Agency (REA) in Brussels, bringing together stakeholders to discuss how Europe can build more sustainable and interconnected research career ecosystems.
Representing SECURE2, Cornelia van Scherpenberg took part in a panel moderated by Carolina Varela, alongside representatives of the sister projects SMART Researchers, ECROS and BREATH EU Project. The discussion focused on the mechanisms needed to activate talent ecosystems, the structural challenges that continue to affect researchers’ career development, and progress towards more connected and sustainable approaches across the European Research Area (ERA).
Activating talent ecosystems through collaboration
The panel highlighted the importance of co-creation and meaningful stakeholder engagement in developing effective approaches to research careers. Multi-stakeholder co-creation processes can generate valuable evidence for decision-making while helping to identify and address fragmentation across talent ecosystems.
For SECURE2, broad and diverse partnerships are a key part of this process. The project works with researcher organisations including Eurodoc, the Marie Curie Alumni Association and ICORSA, both as project partners and through their involvement in implementing activities linked to the Research Career Framework (RCF).
A practical example of this approach is the collaboration between Instituto Superior Técnico and its researcher organisation, demonstrating how researcher voices can be integrated into institutional processes and the implementation of research career frameworks.
Addressing structural challenges
The discussion also drew attention to a number of persistent structural barriers to sustainable research careers. Fragmented systems and support structures can make career development more difficult for researchers, while differences in national and institutional legal frameworks continue to create challenges, particularly in relation to training and the interoperability of research careers.
Participants stressed that strong institutional commitment is essential for turning talent ecosystem initiatives into lasting change. At the same time, effective communication and cooperation with stakeholders beyond academia are increasingly important for creating career pathways that reflect the wider research and innovation ecosystem.
Moving towards more connected research career ecosystems
The discussion in Brussels reinforced a central message shared by the participating projects: building sustainable research careers requires collaboration across institutions, sectors and stakeholder groups.
Broad partnerships can help overcome fragmentation, while trust, open communication and sustained stakeholder engagement are essential for translating new frameworks and approaches into practice.
Through its work on the Research Career Framework and its engagement with researchers, institutions and other stakeholders, SECURE2 continues to contribute to the development of more connected and sustainable research career ecosystems across Europe.
