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Inspireurope+ Stakeholder Forum – May 7, 2025 HIGHLIGHTS

The 2025 edition of the Inspireurope+ Stakeholder Forum took place on May the 7th at the Collège de France, bringing together a diverse range of institutional actors, policymakers, and researchers to address the responsibility of Europe toward scientists in exile.

ABG was there and in this article we take a look back at some of the highlights and impactful ideas from the day.

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The Inspireurope+ Stakeholder Forum 2025

ABG's contribution to the event

General Highlights and key testimonies

The Inspireurope+ Stakeholder Forum 2025

At the heart of the Forum were personal stories of disruption, resilience, and professional rebirth. These were illustrated not only through the plenary discussions but also in two practical workshops held by ABG for researchers considering careers beyond academia.

Tailored to the specific needs of HSS and STEM researchers, the workshops featured experts who generously shared insights regarding :

the logic of recruitment ;
employer expectations ;
and key strategies for professional repositioning.

These sessions highlighted essential soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and networking. Qualities often more valued than academic pedigree in the private sector. Participants appreciated the experts' openness and encouragement. We warmly thank them for their time and insights.

The day concluded with a heartfelt message from Master of Ceremony Fırat Ilim, postdoctoral researcher and former PAUSE laureate:

We are not only grateful. We are ready to give back.

A closing reception gave space for further networking and reunions between at-risk scholars across Europe, reinforcing solidarity and mutual support.

ABG's contribution to the event

ABG focused on providing practical tools for career transition into the non-academic sector through two parallel workshops tailored to HSS and STEM researchers.

These sessions offered participants a rare opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals. Researchers met with:

In the HSS track, researchers engaged with Dr. Antoine MAIRE [SELDON Conseil] and Dr. Saeedeh Vessal [EMLV Business School];
In the STEM track, participants met Dr. Patricia LAYEC [Nokia Bell Labs] and Dr. Sonja KÜHN [Servier].

These experts, PhD holders themselves, generously shared insights on recruitment logic, the expectations of employers, and strategies for aligning academic profiles with market needs. They reassured the researchers that there is a possibility for transition in different steps of the career, and emphasized that:

networking;
the capacity to work in a team;
and efficient communication skills.

could be more important than having a diploma from the most prestigious Universities.

Their openness, advice, and availability were warmly appreciated by all participants, and we thank them for their time and insights.

General Highlights and key testimonies

This year’s forum opened with powerful statements by Thomas RÖMER, [Administrator of the Collège de France], and Philippe BAPTISTE, [French Minister for Higher Education and Research].

Minister Baptiste emphasized the necessity of strengthening connections between academia and industry, recognizing that while not all researchers will transition into the private sector, viable paths must exist for those who choose to.
Professor Philippe AGHION [Collège de France] stressed the urgent need for Europe to embrace foreign talent, noting that over 23% of innovation output in the U.S. originates from foreign-born inventors.

He advocated for programs like “Choose Europe for Science” and support mechanisms such as the PAUSE Programme and LABEX as essential to strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity.
Claire MOREL, [Head of the MSCA at the European Commission], reiterated the EU's commitment to scientific freedom and announced a new MSCA4Ukraine call to support Ukrainian researchers in Europe while maintaining academic ties to their home country.
Discussions throughout the day raised the question: "Can science flourish outside academia?" Myriam Hayatou [Fondation L'Oréal] reminded participants that "private companies are not outside of society. They are part of it."