The Canary Agency for Research, Innovation and Information Society (ACIISI) held this Friday, at the headquarters of the Canary Technology Institute (ITC) in Tenerife, the opening meeting of the third edition of NextAgora, a program aimed at bringing together researchers in pre-doctoral and post-doctoral stages with professionals from different sectors in order to share experiences, generate new connections and explore professional development opportunities inside and outside the academic field.
The meeting brought together the participants of this new edition, who over the next few months will be part of a support process based on periodic meetings and collaborative activities. Through this initiative, they will have the opportunity to learn about diverse professional paths, expand their contact networks, and reflect on the different possibilities offered by the labor market for highly qualified profiles.
This edition involves 22 talents and 20 mentors, maintaining the same level of participation as in previous calls. The inaugural meeting was attended by 23 participants, including 15 talents and 8 mentors, while the preparatory session held online on June 19 was attended by 20 talents, from profiles in technical sciences, health sciences, social sciences, and humanities, along with 16 mentors.
NextAgora is aimed at people linked to research and knowledge who wish to learn firsthand about experiences developed in fields such as business, innovation, public administration, entrepreneurship, or knowledge transfer. The program facilitates spaces for dialogue and mutual learning between professionals and participants, fostering the exchange of experiences and the identification of new professional opportunities.
During the opening of the meeting, the director of ACIISI, Javier Franco Hormiga, highlighted that "ACIISI promotes NextAgora to respond to an increasingly present need among people developing their careers in the field of research: having more spaces to learn about other professional paths, expand their contact networks, and explore new development opportunities. Our commitment is to support talent at different stages of their careers and facilitate connections that contribute to their professional and personal growth".
Likewise, he pointed out that "supporting talent does not consist solely of promoting projects of research or innovation. It also implies creating opportunities for people to develop their full potential, discover new professional fields, and establish connections that help them make decisions about their future".
Franco Hormiga added that "Canary Islands has highly qualified people who develop their work in universities, research centers, technology companies, and internationally renowned organizations. Our goal is for them to have more opportunities to connect that knowledge with society's challenges and with the sectors that are transforming our economy".
Specialized workshops for mentors and talents
After the institutional opening and a first networking activity, the program continued with two parallel workshops designed specifically for each of the participating groups.
The workshop for mentors addressed key aspects of the mentoring process, delving into the role of mentoring as a professional development tool, the specific methodology of NextAgora, mentoring without directing, mentoring conversations using the Equilibra Model, analysis of real cases, practical simulation exercises, and the tools that will facilitate the development of mentoring relationships during the program.
For its part, the workshop for talents focused on the development of transferable human skills, combining theoretical content with self-knowledge tools and participatory dynamics based on the learning by doing methodology, aimed at facilitating the identification, development, and application of highly valued competencies in different professional environments.
The day concluded with a coffee and networking space and a final work session for the talents, fostering the creation of bonds between the participating individuals from the beginning of the program.
The third edition of NextAgora arrives in 2026, supported by the results obtained in its previous calls, which demonstrate the program's impact on the professional trajectory of Canary Islands scientific talent. According to the follow-up survey conducted among participants, 70% believe that NextAgora contributed, directly or indirectly, to their professional development and 80% improved their employment situation: 30% found employment, 50% improved their position or professional conditions, and 20% remain in the same situation.
Over the next few months, participants will have individual meetings and joint activities aimed at sharing experiences, identifying common interests, and building professional relationships that may be useful at different stages of their careers. The program will conclude with a final meeting where the learnings and experiences developed during this edition will be shared.
For this edition, all individuals who applied for a place in the program have also been invited to participate in the workshop for talents, with the aim of extending the training reach of the initiative and promoting the development of skills among a larger number of researchers.
Add La Voz de Lanzarote as a preferred Google source.
Stay informed with the latest current news.