The Biannual Conference of EURAXESS 2019 was hosted by EURAXESS Czech Republic in Prague, on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of May 2019 under the title “Become and EURAXESS Ambassador”. EURAXESS Spain was represented by members from Service Centres in Bizkaia Talent, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Fundación General de la Universidad de Valladolid, Fundación Madri+d, FUNDECYT Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Extremadura,Universidad de Granada and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
The Conference welcomed the more than 150 participants from the 40 national networks with a session particularly aimed at newcomers in which a complete overview of the initiative was offered by the coordinating team at the European Commission, together with different members from national networks and EURAXESS Worldwide representatives. Additional plenary sessions took place along the three days including researcher panels and a pitching contest for the participants.
The programme of Conference was completed with three sessions of parallel workshops in which participants could select different topics related with researcher career development and international mobility such as gender, dual careers, intercultural integration, scientific diaspora, open science and networking. Furthermore, the 18 parallel workshops were complemented by 14 open discussion tables on specific topics such as MSCA-EURAXESS collaborations, researchers at risk, EURAXESS Worldwide activities or the RESAVER pension scheme. Many of these workshops and discussion tables allowed to share and discuss results from EURAXESS-related H2020 projects like TOP III, TOP IV or BRiDGE.
Like in previous editions FECYT as EURAXESS Spain Bridgehead Organisation (BHO) collaborated with the University of Helsinki (EURAXESS Finland BHO) to deliver one of the parallel workshops focused on extended networking to reinforce EURAXESS services through the sharing of good practices.
Last but not least, the official Conference Dinner on the evening of the 22nd of May was organized at the premises of the Municipal House in Prague with an 80’s theme to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution.