Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is pleased to announce the opening of the first call for applications of the InterACT COFUND postdoctoral fellowship programme. InterACT is co-funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and managed by the European Research and Innovation Support (ERIS) team of the Vice-Rectorate Innovation & Industry Relations. Over five years, the programme will recruit 14 international postdoctoral researchers through two competitive calls.
In today’s world of geopolitical tensions and complex global challenges, scientific innovation increasingly depends on collaboration that crosses disciplinary, sectoral, and national boundaries. Yet research too often remains siloed, limiting its potential to inform policy and generate broader societal impact. Postdoctoral researchers play a key role in producing knowledge that supports public decision-making, but they are rarely equipped to work across disciplines or engage directly with policy actors. Strengthening the science–policy interface and empowering researchers to translate research into actionable insights is therefore essential to advancing evidence-based policymaking in Europe and beyond.
"The complex challenges of today require knowledge that moves beyond academia. InterACT helps researchers translate scientific excellence into real-world impact."
To help address these challenges, VUB has established InterACT, an international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral postdoctoral research and training programme that supports researchers in transforming scientific excellence into meaningful societal and policy impact.
Through this first call, InterACT will recruit seven postdoctoral researchers for three-year fellowships. Fellows will develop ambitious research projects while benefiting from interdisciplinary collaboration, intersectoral exposure, dedicated training activities, and opportunities to engage with policy and societal stakeholders. Applications are welcome from researchers from all scientific disciplines.
Interested candidates can now consult the call eligibility criteria, application procedures and call documents on the InterACT website. Applications are open until 8th of January, 2027, 17:00 CET.
For more information, visit the InterACT website: https://interact-programme.be