After eleven months of being part of SwissCore’s team, we bid farewell to our Junior Advisor for Innovation, Saloni Mittal.
“When I arrived in Brussels in September 2024, I did not anticipate just how transformative the experience would be. Immersing myself in the EU bubble offered invaluable insights into how the European institutions function, from understanding the workings of the European Parliament and the Commission to witnessing firsthand how policy processes unfold and narratives evolve. It was particularly fascinating to be in Brussels while negotiations between Switzerland and the EU on Horizon Europe were ongoing. Being able to follow these discussions closely and celebrate Switzerland rejoining the programme made the experience all the more rewarding.”
When Saloni joined SwissCore as Trainee for Innovation, she had just completed her bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Zurich. Alongside her studies, she gained experience at the ETH Alumni Association and a Swiss start-up, giving her exposure to both the academic and innovation ecosystems. Saloni joined the SwissCore team as Trainee for Innovation, supporting the Advisor in daily tasks and operations, such as writing articles and reports, including a success story on Empa’s involvement in the Graphene Flagship. For her traineeship project, she examined the complementarities between Innosuisse and Horizon Europe funding instruments, identifying pathways for Swiss researchers, start-ups and SMEs to access European funding under Pillar 3. She mainly examined the fast track and plug-in opportunities for Switzerland. The results of this project aim to offer evidence on how to funnel companies that have benefitted from national grants in Switzerland towards relevant European funding opportunities. She collaborated closely with experts from Innosuisse, SERI and Euresearch throughout the project and presented the results to them.
As Junior Advisor, Saloni continued to support of the innovation portfolio and the team. A major focus during this period was contributing to the preparations for SwissCore’s 30th anniversary event. Saloni was primarily responsible for collecting and curating the 30 success stories featured as part of the celebrations. She initiated the development of the success story booklet and the ‘30 years, 30 stories’ series on LinkedIn. Among the success stories she authored are Bloom Biorenewables, PARC, BIAS and REAL. She looks forward to returning to Brussels in September to join the celebrations.
“Beyond the professional exposure, it was the people I had the privilege to meet who made this journey truly special. I learnt a great deal from colleagues and contacts from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique perspectives that broadened my own. Looking ahead, I will begin my master’s in international relations at the London School of Economics this autumn – an exciting next step for which my experience in Brussels has prepared me in many ways.
Thank you to the whole SwissCore team for warmly welcoming me and supporting me throughout my time in Brussels – especially Laurin Reding and Luca Cruciato, whose mentorship and encouragement I deeply appreciate. I leave with valuable insights, meaningful connections and lasting memories that I will carry with me into the next chapter.”