FBK Pioneers in Research Summer School: Registration open for the second edition

The Foundation is pleased to announce the second edition of its initiative dedicated to young research talents: the “FBK Pioneers in Research” Summer School, which will take place from September 7 to 11, 2026, at the Foundation’s site in Povo (Trento).

The school was established to offer Master’s students in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or Environmental Science an immersive and stimulating educational experience at the heart of innovation.

The 2026 edition , organized in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Energy , will focus on energy technologies, a cutting-edge field in which FBK actively contributes to international progress.

The program is designed to train the next generation of researchers by providing an intensive learning environment that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.

This transformative experience is designed to inspire and prepare future generations to address tomorrow’s technological challenges and become pioneers of the energy transition.  Participants will benefit from a hands-on approach, working in state-of-the-art facilities and collaborating with peers and mentors. 

Students will have the opportunity to:

• follow the development of innovative materials;
• explore next-generation batteries;
• discover hydrogen technologies;
• investigate the role of sustainability, in its broadest sense, and AI in future energy scenarios ;
• engage with experts and researchers in a stimulating and highly personalized environment.

Applications are open until June 7, 2026.
To participate, applicants must complete the online application form  and upload a CV, a motivation letter, and a short video presentation.

More information and application forms are available at: researchpioneers.fbk.eu 

The initiative represents the second edition of a broader project that, in the coming years, will also involve other research centers within the Foundation, with the aim of exploring different scientific and technological topics through an experiential approach in close contact with FBK’s expertise. 

In addition to the Summer School, FBK offers several other training opportunities for undergraduate students, including curricular internships, thesis collaborations, and “150-hour” collaborations (paid between 6 and 9 euros per hour), which may be extended up to 400 hours. 

Training the next generation of scientists is not a one-time effort, but a long-term commitment. Our ambition is to identify and support young talents by offering immersive research opportunities that may also evolve into pathways for professional development within the Foundation’s research and innovation community. 

The doors of our knowledge laboratory are open. Initiatives dedicated to younger generations are organized by age group and take different forms: from school-to-work programs to university activities, summer schools, and international doctoral programs. 

Pioneers in Research is therefore part of the continuity that characterizes many of the personal and professional growth paths we have been supporting over time, creating synergies among schools, academia, and participating companies. 

The insight, energy, and creativity of young people—their curiosity, interests, and the questions they bring to researchers—represent a valuable opportunity to understand how society is evolving. In this co-evolution, long-term experience, state-of-the-art knowledge, and new perspectives come together on fertile ground, allowing the seemingly unthinkable to flourish, renewing the mission of open science and laying foundations for the future. 

Contacts:

Elena Moser Zotta
Tristana Bianchi