IBBE PAS European Discussion on the Future of Research Careers

The „EURAXESS Biennial Conference 2026” held under the theme “Evolving EURAXESS in a Changing World”, took place in Sofia on 28–30 October 2026. Renata Wrońska from the Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences (IBIB PAS), attended the event as one of only seven representatives from Poland participating in this year's conference.

Organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Bulgarian EURAXESS network and Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, the conference brought together representatives of national EURAXESS networks, universities, research institutes, European institutions and international partners. It provided a platform for exchanging experiences, presenting good practices and discussing the future of Europe's support system for researchers.

This year's meeting focused on the challenges facing the research community today. Key topics included international researcher mobility, attracting and retaining research talent in Europe, changing academic career paths, the integration of international researchers and research security.

The programme featured plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops addressing, among other topics, the development of cooperation within the EURAXESS network, building more inclusive and resilient research environments, and adapting support services to the changing needs of researchers and research institutions. The event was also attended by Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, who discussed the future of research careers and the competitiveness of European science with network representatives.

Participation in the conference provided an opportunity to learn about the latest directions in the development of the EURAXESS initiative and exchange experiences with representatives of research institutions from across Europe. The topics discussed are particularly relevant to efforts to internationalise research, support international researchers and create open and welcoming working environments within research institutions.

EURAXESS – Researchers in Motion is a European initiative supporting researcher mobility, career development and international cooperation. Poland is part of the network, with the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) serving as its national coordinator.

For more information about the initiative, visit: www.euraxess.pl.