Trust and Identity Incubator Mentorship Programme

Attracting emerging talent to the field of trust and identity

What is TIM?
Timeline
Who can apply
Application process
Benefits
FAQs

What is TIM?

The Trust and Identity Incubator Mentorship Programme (TIM) is an exciting initiative that brings together ambitious young minds with industry experts to develop innovative solutions in trust and identity (T&I). The programme aims to develop the next generation of T&I researchers and explore innovative new T&I concepts, products and services.

The TIM Programme is a seven-month paid mentorship funded by the GÉANT GN5-2 project (which is supported by the European Commission and GÉANT's member NRENs). It is developed for young professionals with a passion for T&I who are studying, (or are recent graduates of), computer science, engineering or a related subject. They can earn while they learn from some of the best in the field!

Timeline

Registration opens: 25 June 2025
Registration closes: 5 August 2025
TIM26 selection process: 6 August - 22 August 2025
Contract set up/onboarding for successful participant(s): 25 August – 25 September 2025
Incubator team kick-off meeting: 1 October 2025 (Central European location)
TIM26 Programme start: early October 2025
Incubator cycle and TIM26 Programme end: April 2026

Who can apply

We're looking for Bachelors, Masters, or PhD students, or recent graduates in computer science, engineering, or related tech fields.

Applicants will be registered at a university in a GÉANT partner country or an early career professional in the NREN community.

Requirements:

Strong academic background in the field of technology.

Keen interest in trust and identity.

Available up to three days a week, for seven months from the project start date.

Available to attend the kick-off meeting in person (Central European location).

Good command of English, both spoken and written.

Applicants must be nominated and registered by a GÉANT Member NREN.

Application process

NRENs promote the programme to their member universities and research institutions and identify and select candidates.

Alternatively, students and young professionals can be connected to their local NREN via the GLAD team.

The student's local NREN will review their proposal and identify a local mentor. Note, that the local NREN must be able to set up a suitable employment contract to enable payment to be made to their successful candidates. This reimbursement can then be recharged via the GN5-2 Project reclaim process.

Applications are submitted via an online form.

Applications should include:

Student’s CV.

Student’s motivation letter.

Sponsoring NREN’s motivation letter.

Domonkos

"I belonged to a team that worked on webwallets that store and manage verifiable credentials mostly for people in research and education. It was a wonderful experience because I got to work with novel and cutting edge technologies along with a team of helpful and nice people."
Domonkos Baczó | Hungary

Anna

"Being part of the incubator team was a great learning experience. It was great to be part of an international community. I am grateful for this opportunity and hope that other students can benefit from being part of the programme!"
Anna Kardos | Hungary

Aleksandr

“The exposure to diverse tasks and technologies has broadened my skill set, providing a solid foundation for future pursuits. The TIM programme not only equipped me with technical expertise, but also cultivated a range of transferable skills crucial for success in any professional setting.”
Aleksandr Petrunin | Cyprus

Ondřej

“Being a part of the TIM programme was an excellent experience for me. The topic of my work was Enabling WebAuthn technology for SATOSA, which was also a topic of my Bachelor thesis. The people in the incubator were very kind. I thank them for providing this great experience and the understanding they had.”
Ondřej Ernst | Czechia

Benefits to students

The Trust and Identity Incubator Mentorship Programme offers a fantastic opportunity to develop an innovative project on a European scale, guided by industry experts.

TIM presents a unique chance for learning and professional growth, including:

A paid professional mentorship (which can be combined with thesis writing).

Collaboration with an international team of trust and identity experts.

Support from a local mentor.

Training and skills development, including public speaking.

Professional networking and future employment opportunities.

Benefits for NRENs

TIM enables NRENs to build local trust and identity expertise, learn from experienced SMEs, develop new products and services, and potentially expand their service portfolios. It also strengthens relationships with member institutions and connects with the next generation of talent.

To be eligible to participate, NRENs must:

Be a member of the GÉANT GN5.2 project.

Provide a mentor to support the participant. The mentor should commit half to one day per week over the seven-month period. (Time will be reimbursed).

Facilitate a contract with the successful participant to administer a paid mentorship. (Per their local HR and legal requirements).

Students and mentors both receive compensation for their time working in the incubator, and the process of reimbursements is defined under the financial rules of the GÉANT GN5.2 project.