Trainee (Analysis of innovation in biopharmaceutical small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs))

This traineeship opportunity at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has an intake on 1 October 2026.

About the traineeship programme

The Agency is looking for motivated, qualified recent graduates or students on an Erasmus+ or other programme or PhD students or Master's students (who posses a previous degree), who are interested in gaining experience and contribute to the Agency’s work for every patient in Europe.

The purpose of a traineeship at the Agency is to perform tasks that are predominantly in the interest of the trainee’s training and principally serve to increase the trainee’s knowledge and to gain relevant experience.

Placement description

We are looking for a trainee in the SME Office.

Specific objectives and projects

During your traineeship in the small and medium-sized enterprise office, you will be involved in the following projects:

• Conduct in-depth analyses to profile innovation emerging from biopharmaceutical and medtech small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered with EMA. This work will leverage classifications of emerging, breakthrough and disruptive technologies drawing on EMA and EU institutions and agencies databases as well as foresight reports.
• Analyse the sourcing of biopharmaceutical innovation within EMA’s Priority Medicines (PRIME) scheme, including an assessment of the roles of SMEs and small mid-caps as technology platform providers that enable the advancement of breakthrough biotechnology innovations.
• Contribute to EMA’s support activities for SMEs, including reviews of compliance with the SME definition, provision of regulatory assistance, communications, training initiatives and stakeholder engagement.

Learning outcomes

You will gain knowledge of:

• Legal and regulatory framework for biopharmaceuticals
• Policies targeting innovative SMEs in the pharmaceutical sector
• Regulatory affairs
• Stakeholder engagement

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration for this placement, you are required to:

1. enjoy full rights as a citizen of a European Union Member State or Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway;
2. possess a university degree in health related sciences (minimum of three years or more) that must have been obtained between 6 May 2025 and 6 May 2026 or be a university student on an Erasmus + or a similar programme or a PhD student or a Master's student with a previous fully finished degree in the areas mentioned before.
3. a thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1) and good knowledge of other official EU language (at least B2) of the Common European Framework for Languages

Additional skills

In addition to the eligibility criteria, you will have training in or knowledge of the EU regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals.

Behavioural Competencies

You will demonstrate the following behavioural competencies:

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Working with others
• Adaptability
• Research and analytical skills
• Learning and development

Conditions of traineeship

The traineeship is offered for 10 months (1 October 2026 – 31 July 2027) and takes place at the Agency’s premises in Amsterdam with possibility for teleworking up to 40% of working time from The Netherlands and occasional teleworking from outside The Netherlands. Traineeships are offered for either full-time or part-time (80% or 50%) if combined with university studies.

The Agency pays a monthly stipend of €2,049.77 for a full-time traineeship (reduced accordingly for 80% or 50%) and a travel contribution upon joining the Agency.

Each trainee will have a mentor at the Agency who will guide the trainee through the programme.

What do we offer?

• Meaningful work contributing to protecting the health of every individual and animal in Europe within multinational, multidisciplinary team
• Development opportunities (e.g. internal mobility, mentoring, peer coaching, career reflection programme, etc.)
• Work-life balance (flexible working arrangements, teleworking, generous annual leave plus official holidays)