Applications are open for the 28th edition of INOV Contacto – International Internship Program, an initiative managed by the Portuguese Trade & Investment Agency (AICEP), aimed at providing young professionals with international experience in multicultural and competitive environments.
The applications are open until October 31 at 5:00 PM.
This edition of the program offers 100 paid internship positions in partner companies and entities worldwide, furthering its commitment to the training of Portuguese talent and integration into international networks of knowledge and innovation, the announcement stated.
This year’s edition introduces several key updates:
- 100 internship positions available in various fields of study;
- A one-week rest period to ensure a better work-life balance for interns;
- Increased focus on the well-being and support of interns, with attention to mental health;
- A new application platform with a simpler and more intuitive user experience;
- More selective criteria for host entities, based on past editions’ experiences.
“INOV Contacto is one of AICEP’s most impactful initiatives because it invests in Portugal’s most valuable asset: talent. This edition emphasizes well-being and quality of experience, preparing young professionals for global challenges and connecting them with companies that believe in innovation and internationalization as drivers of the future,” said the president of AICEP, Madalena Oliveira e Silva, in the released statement.
Established in 1997, INOV Contacto has provided international experiences to thousands of young Portuguese in about 90 countries and 1400 host entities, serving as a strategic tool for the internationalization of national talent and enhancement of the competitiveness of Portuguese companies.
Interested parties can obtain more information here.
A year ago, Portugal strengthened the INOV Contacto international internship program, expanding it to nine months with a focus on technology and considering the creation of new programs, according to the Minister of Youth and Modernization at that time.
The program was extended from six to nine months, an “important change to provide a more enriching experience for these young people,” emphasized Margarida Balseiro Lopes to Lusa.
In addition to expanding the international internship program, Portugal has invested in areas identified by the Government as “extremely relevant,” such as technology and “big science,” in partnership with the National Innovation Agency, as detailed by the minister.
Portugal reinforced the INOV Contacto international internship program, which has supported more than six thousand young people, extending it to nine months with a focus on technologies and considering the creation of new programs, stated the Minister of Youth and Modernization to Lusa.
