It’s time for the 2026 edition of the Trust & Identity Incubator Mentorship programme (TIM). Launching earlier than usual, applications are open from 25 June 2025, and close 5 August 2025. Every year, TIM supports the collaboration of young professionals and industry experts to create innovative solutions for the Trust & Identity (T&I) field.
Jovan Simonoski participated in the previous edition of TIM. We asked Jovan to describe his experience, and what advice he would give to those thinking of joining.
“Throughout the whole of my TIM experience I received guidance every step of the way. Either from my local mentor who encourage me to explore innovative solutions, to the training provided with a mentor for public speaking in order to prepare for my final presentation.
TIM also provided me with the opportunity to travel, where I attended the kick-off meeting in Budapest, Hungary which was a really amazing networking opportunity.
If you are thinking about joining TIM – don’t hesitate. For me, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. In fact, my bachelor thesis was based on the work I did during the project.
Learning from international experts, gaining practical skills, building a professional network, all while being supported and financially compensated, it’s an opportunity I’m grateful I didn’t miss out on!”
Anna Kardos completed her TIM Mentorship in 2023. She reflects,
“Being part of the Incubator team is an amazing learning opportunity and experience. It’s great to be part of an international community, and get a glimpse into what working in this field looks like.”
Work with T&I experts
Students will develop their project under the guidance of the GÉANT T&I Incubator experts, supported by a local mentor during the Incubator’s development cycle. The student, together with their NREN, may select a project of their own choice, or from a range of concepts, products and services proposed by the T&I Incubator team.
Domonkos Baczo completed the programme with Anna in 2023,
“It was a wonderful experience, because I could work with novel and cutting edge technologies along with a team of kind and helpful people…I also had a mentor who supported me when I needed help with a task, and I was able to learn a lot from him.”
Discover emerging T&I Talent
This programme has been successful in attracting future talent to our community and supports the development of local expertise in Trust & Identity.
Students develop valuable skills and hands-on experience with experts in their field and gain networking opportunities.
Improve Technical Expertise
The GÉANT Learning and Development team (GLAD) supports students throughout the programme with a variety of professional development opportunities. Participants receive expert presentation training, equipping them with the skills to effectively showcase their research and support their future careers
Previous TIM participant, Aleksandr Petrunin highlights:
“The TIM programme has not only equipped me with technical expertise, but has also cultivated a range of transferable skills crucial for success in any professional setting.”
Join TIM 2025
Join students such as Jovan, Anna, Domonkos, and Aleksandr, who have all benefited from the programme.
TIM 2026 is open to final year Bachelors, Masters, PhD level students, or recent graduates with a passion for Trust & Identity. They will have a strong academic record in the fields of Computer Science, Engineering, or other technology-related fields. No prior experience with incubator topics is necessary just an enthusiasm to learn!
Participants must be nominated and registered by a GÉANT Member NREN.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to develop your T&I expertise.
Visit https://community.geant.org/trust-and-identity-mentorship/ for more information or contact GLAD to discover how the TIM programme can benefit your organisation.
Application deadline: 5 August 2025
