Junior Consultant

Junior Consultant - European Cluster Policy, Innovation Ecosystems & Smart Specialisation M/V/X

Prognos provides evidence-based advice to public institutions, associations, foundations and companies on major economic, social and policy challenges. Founded at the University of Basel, we now work across nine locations with more than 200 experts from over 30 disciplines. Our work combines rigorous analysis, policy expertise and practical implementation support for clients at European, national and regional level.

We are looking for a Junior Consultant to join our Brussels-based EU Services team. The role is focused on European cluster policy, Smart Specialisation, regional innovation ecosystems, interregional cooperation and EU competitiveness. It combines analytical consulting work with stakeholder engagement, capacity building, network facilitation and project communication. The position supports ongoing EU-level assignments involving cluster organisations, regional authorities, innovation agencies and stakeholders in Francophone Europe and Ukraine.
Your responsibilities:

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative policy analysis on European cluster policy, Smart Specialisation (S3), regional innovation ecosystems, interregional cooperation and EU competitiveness.
• Contribute to analytical deliverables for European Commission and EU-agency assignments, including reports, policy papers, input papers, briefings, benchmarking exercises and presentations.
• Analyse cluster organisations and innovation ecosystems using structured indicators, desk research, interviews, survey evidence and quantitative datasets.
• Support research on governance, operational models, financial sustainability and resilience of cluster organisations and innovation networks.
• Prepare and conduct stakeholder interviews with cluster managers, public authorities, innovation agencies, companies, research organisations and other ecosystem actors.
• Design, organise and facilitate workshops, peer-learning activities, conferences and capacity-building formats for international stakeholder groups.
• Support Smart Specialisation and innovation-ecosystem capacity building, including work with Ukrainian regional and innovation stakeholders in a complex operating environment.
• Maintain direct working relationships with cluster organisations and cluster networks in France, Belgium and other EU Member States and contribute to European-level community building.
• Support communication and dissemination activities for EU projects, including digital content, stakeholder communication and community engagement.
• Apply data-analysis tools, including Python and advanced Excel, to structure, analyse and visualise evidence for consulting assignments.
• Support project management, quality assurance and proposal preparation across the EU Services portfolio.

All of the following requirements are essential for the position:

• Education: Master's degree in a field related to innovation ecosystems, clusters, innovation management, regional innovation policy, or a comparable discipline, with knowledge of EU policies, strategy and project management.
• Professional experience: At least two years of relevant professional experience in cluster organisations or networks, EU-funded projects, public policy consulting or applied research.
• Cluster and innovation expertise: Practical experience with cluster organisations and cluster networks, including network facilitation, member relations, international activities and event organisation. Good knowledge of European cluster policy, Smart Specialisation (S3), regional innovation ecosystems and interregional cooperation.
• Policy analysis and consulting: Experience in conducting European-level studies and analyses, including desk research, interviews, stakeholder mapping, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and the formulation of conclusions and recommendations. Experience in drafting reports, policy papers and other professional deliverables, particularly for European institutional clients.
• Cluster research: Knowledge or experience relating to the governance, operating models, financial sustainability and resilience of cluster organisations, including the use of quantitative indicators.
• International stakeholder engagement: Experience in preparing and facilitating workshops, conferences, networking and peer-learning activities involving public authorities, cluster organisations, innovation agencies, companies and research organisations.
• Ukrainian context: Experience working with Ukrainian stakeholders in regional development, innovation or economic development, particularly in capacity building, stakeholder engagement or policy support.
• EU projects and communication: Experience in the implementation, reporting and communication of