What We Do

To achieve LETSGROW’s vision, the consortium will develop and implement a training and mobility programme dedicated to both research topics and to R&I support capacity building. The training and mobility programmes work in tandem, maximising impact to both Talents and entities involved. Through cross-learning between academic and NA partners and the involvement of the ecosystem, LETSGROW will build policy recommendations that ultimately can lead to transformations that facilitate effective and lasting change.

Training Programme Overview

Comprehensive programme to build essential skills for cross-sector collaboration, lifelong learning, and competitiveness.

Focus areas:

  • Interdisciplinary research methods tailored to partner needs;
  • Deep tech (g., digital, biotechnology);
  • Transversal skills: creative thinking, grant writing, innovation management, business development.
  • Combination of short-term online sessions and in-depth formats (g., summer schools);
  • Recognition through ECTS and/or micro-credentials;
  • Materials developed aligned with both academic and NA sector standards;
  • Fully aligned with ResearchComp Framework and ERA policies to enhance career interoperability in agri-food sectors.
  • Assessment tools to evaluate effectiveness and promote continuous improvement;
  • Primarily for selected Talents under mobility, but open to consortium staff and external stakeholders when possible.

Mobility Programme Overview

The Mobility Programme will strengthen individual competencies and institutional capacity for cross-sector collaboration. It will ensure standardised quality conditions across partners and enhance connections between academic, NA, and regional networks.

Each Talent will develop a Personal Career Development Plan (PCDP) with two mentors (from host and sending institutions), guiding the mobility and the Return Plan (RP) that supports continued learning and project exploitation after the secondment. A Mentorship Programme and a Mobility Pack will ensure consistent guidance, practical support, and harmonised standards across all mobilities.

  • Research mobilities: focusing on building research collaboration capacity. They will involve Talents currently performing R&I support duties, and take place between both Academic (Acad)-NA institutions. The aim is to improve the scientific and technological skills of the Talents in agri-food solutions, fungal fermentation and anaerobic digestion, soil health and water treatment and management. The Talents will gain/improve transferable skills, such as project management, team working, cultural awareness, etc.;
  • R&I support mobilities: focusing on building R&I support capacity. They will involve Talents currently performing R&I support duties and will take place between both Acad-Acad and Acad-NA institutions. The aim is to build R&I capacity of its current offices, but also joint capacity, gathering and structuring competences for the design of a framework that enables increased capacity/synergies for value creation. The mobilities will foster an innovation ecosystem among the consortium to: i) offer other consortium members better tools for IP management; ii) market facilitation; iii) entrepreneurship support; iv) better tech services; and v) improved engagement with stakeholders.
  • Mentoring,
  • Career development,
  • On-the-job training,
  • Peer learning,
  • Co-creation workshops.

Cross-Sector Collaboration and R&I Talent Development

Ecosystem Transformation and Policy Development

The objective is to foster cross-sector collaboration, R&I Talent development, and career interoperability through co-created policies and recommendations.

A comprehensive mapping of the agri-food R&I ecosystem will identify regional needs, gaps, and assets, engaging a wide range of actors – academia, industry, accelerators, incubators, investors, funding agencies, and public bodies. Collaboration with related European projects will ensure coherence and shared learning.

A Community of Practice (CoP) will connect stakeholders across sectors and regions, serving as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and co-creation. The CoP will drive a more connected and knowledge-intensive agri-food sector by promoting Talent circulation and better alignment between career paths in academia and industry.

The resulting policy recommendations will be based on ecosystem mapping, outputs from the training and mobility programmes, and insights from the CoP. They will align with the ERA Policy Agenda and propose best practices for mentoring, career development, and institutional support for R&I Talents.