BS4S - Basic Sciences 4 Society needs: postdoctoral training

Training tomorrow’s innovators
Basic research often struggles to turn breakthroughs into solutions that meet societal and market needs. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BS4S project offers a new model for postdoctoral training. Experienced researchers will be selected to develop interdisciplinary projects in areas like biomaterials and health technologies, photonics and light-driven processes, and catalysis for sustainable transformations. Fellows will have mentorship and targeted training provided by industry partners. By developing a need-driven innovation mindset, BS4S will enable scientists to turn fundamental research into products and services that address societal challenges, boost knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship in Europe.

Objective
“Basic Sciences 4 Society needs: postdoctoral training” (BS4S) is a research training programme of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF) for postdoctoral fellows (ERs). Focused on fundamental research, IChF is also known for its commercialisation endeavours, such as spinning off Scope Fluidics, which later sold digital PCR to Bio-Rad Labs for $170 m.
The programme aims to reshape researchers’ mindsets, encouraging them to consider societal, market, or technological needs in their work. BS4S promotes a need-driven innovation approach, making research more accountable to society and enhancing knowledge flow between academia and business.

BS4S will admit 20 fellows (36M fellowships) selected in transparent, open and merit-based calls, evaluated by external independent experts. Candidates can choose the research area from IChF’s offer (chemistry, biology, physics) and propose their own interdisciplinary project. Mentors’ expertise aligns with IChF’s Core areas Of Excellence (Advanced Biomaterials & Technologies for Health; Photonics and Light-Driven Processes; Catalysis & Materials for Sustainable Transformations) and with Horizon Europe, Green Deal and Smart Specialisations Strategies.

BS4S fellows will have two mentors: one from IChF and one from a foreign institution. 20 ERC/EIC application-oriented holders have committed as partners to mentor fellows and host secondments. During the fellowship, ERs will advance their projects through CDP-driven training, focusing on transforming fundamental research into products/services, with support from 12 businesses offering internships and mentorship. Partners like Scope Fluidics (microfluidics for medicine), Perosol (perovskite solar cells) or EcoResorces (sustainable solutions) will drive sustainable technology development.

BS4S will equip fellows with skills to transfer knowledge, start businesses, incubate projects, and translate innovative research into societal-impact products.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.