On 2 March 2026, the European Projects Office of the Extremadura System of Science, Technology and Innovation (OPE-SECTI), managed by FUNDECYT-PCTEX, organised the informative session “Open Science in Research Projects”, held at the Assembly Hall of the School of Engineering in Cáceres at the Universidad de Extremadura. The session was aimed at researchers, project coordinators, research staff and research support personnel, with the objective of providing a clear, up-to-date and practical overview of Open Science principles, as well as the current regulatory requirements at national and European level regarding open access and research data management. During the event, the key requirements for complying with Open Access policies in scientific publications were presented, together with best practices for the responsible and efficient management of research data. These aspects are increasingly relevant not only during the proposal preparation phase but also throughout the entire lifecycle of research projects. The session was delivered entirely in English by Laura Bonora, Open Science expert at FECYT, who shared her experience and practical guidance on implementing open science principles in research projects. The event brought together 50 participants (25 women and 25 men) and received very positive feedback from attendees, who highlighted the relevance and practical usefulness of the topics discussed. This activity, organised by FUNDECYT-PCTEX through OPE-SECTI in collaboration with the University of Extremadura, forms part of the training programme of the Talent4Iberia project, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND action under Horizon Europe, co-funded by the European Union and the Regional Government of Extremadura. The session contributes to strengthening the capacities of the research community in key areas for participation in European projects and for advancing more open, transparent and internationally aligned research practices.

The Official Administrative Resolution of the Talent4Iberia Programme has now been published. This Administrative Resolution, published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura #172, officially announces the list of 10 selected candidates and 10 selected substitutes, as well as the final score of all the applications presented to the Programme. The selected researchers will receive all the necessary documentation to formally accept the fellowship in the following days. These 10 fellowships amount to a total funding of €2,180,600 over a three-year employment period. They are co-funded 50% by the Horizon Europe Programme – MSCA-2022-COFUND-01 and the Regional Government of Extremadura, and are awarded through the signing of an employment contract for postdoctoral researchers. The resolution of the call, managed by the General Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation of the Regional Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training, has been published today in the Official Gazette of Extremadura (DOE). These fellowships were offered under Decree 43/2024, of 21 May 2024, which sets out the regulatory bases for the Talent4Iberia project (101128265). The programme is aimed at recruiting postdoctoral researchers to carry out R&I activities in the field of energy storage, within the framework of the Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

The International Call for the Talent4Iberia - Career development of international talents of the energy research fields in the Iberian Peninsula programme has officially closed with remarkable international participation. A total of 62 candidates from 23 different countries have submitted their applications, demonstrating the programme's global appeal and the attractiveness of Extremadura's energy storage research ecosystem. The evaluation process will now be conducted by an Expert Panel from the National Research Agency (Agencia Estatal de Investigación, AEI), who will assess the Research Proposals of all candidates. Following the evaluation and selection process, the successful fellows are expected to begin their contracts during the second quarter of 2025. This MSCA-COFUND programme, co-funded by the European Commission and the Regional Government of Extremadura, will contribute significantly to advancing research in Electrical Energy Storage, Thermal Energy Storage, and Hydrogen and Power-to-X, while strengthening Extremadura's position as a reference in energy storage research. The 'Talent4Iberia' programme is managed by the General Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Vocational Training of the Regional Government of Extremadura, and the recruitment of the postdoctoral research fellows will be carried out by entities belonging to the SECTI, such as the Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage (CIIAE), managed by FUNDECYT-PCTEX, the University of Extremadura (UEX) and the Centre for Scientific and Technological Research of Extremadura (CICYTEX). Talent4Iberia is made up of 22 partners, including universities, research centres and companies in the energy sector from 15 countries inside and outside the European Union, which will allow a greater internationalisation of the Extremadura Science, Technology and Innovation System.

The deadline for submitting applications to the Talent4Iberia - Career development of international talents of the energy research fields in the Iberian Peninsula programme has been extended to August 8th, 2024, at 14:00 CEST due to unforeseen technical incidents in the submission platform. Candidates interested in applying for one of the 10 MSCA-COFUND postdoctoral fellowships in Energy Storage can continue submitting their applications through SECTI's platform until the new deadline. The programme management team has implemented this extension to ensure all candidates can complete their submission process without technical difficulties. For any queries, candidates can contact info@talent4iberia.eu. All programme information remains available in the Guide for Applicants on the Talent4Iberia website.

The International Call for the Talent4Iberia - Career development of international talents of the energy research fields in the Iberian Peninsula programme has been officially published in the Official Journal of Extremadura (Diario Oficial de Extremadura, DOE). This MSCA-COFUND programme, co-funded by the European Commission and the Regional Government of Extremadura, offers 10 postdoctoral research fellowships focused on Energy Storage research. Candidates interested in applying for these 36-month fellowships will have one month, until August 6th, 2024, at 14:00 CEST to submit their applications through SECTI's platform. The research opportunities are distributed across three strategic lines: Electrical Energy Storage, Thermal Energy Storage, and Hydrogen and Power-to-X. SUBMISSION PROCESS All applications must be submitted through SECTI's platform, where candidates will need to provide their research proposals and required documentation. To ensure a successful application, candidates are strongly encouraged to carefully review the Guide for Applicants, available on the Talent4Iberia website. This comprehensive document contains all relevant information, including detailed procedures and estimated deadlines for the entire selection process. The programme includes a complete training scheme focused on developing both research-oriented and transversal skills. Additionally, selected researchers will have the opportunity to participate in cross-sectoral secondments with 21 prestigious partner organizations in the Energy Sector. For any questions or queries regarding the application process or the programme itself, candidates can contact the programme management team at info@talent4iberia.eu.

The Talent4Iberia programme, co-funded by the European Commission through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA-COFUND) and the Regional Government of Extremadura, will soon open its international call for attracting research talent in the field of energy storage. This pioneering initiative offers 10 postdoctoral fellowships with a duration of 36 months, designed to boost research in three strategic lines: Electrical Energy Storage, Thermal Energy Storage, and Hydrogen and Power-to-X. Selected researchers will develop their projects in one of the three high-profile research centers in Extremadura, thus consolidating the region's position as a reference in the energy sector. The programme stands out for its comprehensive training plan, which will not only enhance the research competencies of participants but will also develop essential transversal skills for their professional career. As an added value, researchers will have the opportunity to carry out cross-sectoral secondments in 21 prestigious collaborating entities in the energy sector. Interested candidates will have one month from the official publication of the call to submit their applications. THE PROGRAMME Talent4Iberia is part of the European Union's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which seek to promote excellence in training, mobility, and professional development of researchers. The programme is co-funded by the European Commission and the Regional Government of Extremadura, demonstrating the institutional commitment to the scientific and technological development of the region in the field of energy storage. The call will be published soon in the Official Journal of Extremadura (Diario Oficial de Extremadura, DOE), where candidates can find all necessary information about requirements, application process, and required documentation.