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ECO-CARE Project
Deep-tech tools & Early Career Researchers

The ECO-CARE Project

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The ECO-CARE (Deep-tech tools & Early Career Researchers) project is a research project funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR).

 It is conducted in collaboration between our Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Studies on the Doctorate (LID), CERGAM (Aix-Marseille Université, project coordinator), and GREDEG (Université Côte d’Azur).

Why this project?

Entrepreneurship is increasingly attracting early-career researchers and reshaping their career choices. Indeed, 42.5% of PhD candidates are considering starting their own business. Does this aspiration, whether fulfilled or not, have an impact on career trajectories? This is what the ECO-CARE project seeks to understand.

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How do University-Based Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (U-BEE) deep-tech tools influence the career trajectories of Early-Career Researchers (ECRs)?

3 KEY

CONCEPTS

Deep-tech:

Breakthrough innovations arising from scientific research, defined by high complexity and uncertainty.

Early-Career Researchers (ECRs):

Researchers within their first ten years of post-PhD tracking, representing a driving force for innovation.

The interconnected network

of stakeholders, institutions, and processes supporting university-led deep-tech entrepreneurship.

University-Based

Entrepreneurial

Ecosystems (U-BEEs):

Methodology

To answer this question, the project is structured into three successive phases based on an original methodological protocol combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. This design ensures the active and continuous engagement of ecosystem actors at every stage of the study.

WORKPACKAGE 1

Mapping the deep tech tools relevant to ECRs withing the U-BEE with qualitative pre-analysis

Map deep-tech

tools relevant to ERCs

Literature Review

Comprehensive understanding of U-BEE's structure and dynamics

Qualitative interviews with focus groups

WORKPACKAGE 2

Studying the impact of deep-tech policy tools on ECRs carreer trajectories with quantitative surveys and expert focus groups

Uncovering ECRs' career trajectories

Quantitative analysis

Deep-tech policy tools functions within sub-ecosystems

Focus group

WORKPACKAGE 3

Recontextualization, modeling, and recommandations to strengthen the role of early-career researchers thoughout their careRecontextualization and Expert feedbackers in the deep-tech ecosystem

Recontextualization

and Expert feedback

Deeptech ecosystem workshop, qualitative interviews

Development of an Interdisciplnary Analytical Framework

The project proposes an original theoretical framework that bridges public policies, academic careers, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. It shifts the focus from organizations toward the individual journey of early-career researchers (ECRs).proposes an original theoretical framework that bridges public policies, academic careers, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. It shifts the focus from organizations toward the individual journey of early-career researchers (ECRs).

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The project relies on a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative interviews, focus groups, and quantitative surveys.

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The practical added value lies in providing a mapping of deep-tech innovation and institutional recommendations. The results will serve as a foundation to design a guidance tool

(a "deep-tech GPS") intended for researchers.

Contact

For any questions about this research project or to request access to our findings, please reach out to us at:​

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lid@adoc-tm.com

tonismann@adoc-tm.com (Scientific Lead - Adoc Talent Management )

benedicte.aldebert@univ-amu.fr (Global Coordinator - Université Aix Marseille)

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Funding

The ECO-CARE project is funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR) with a total grant of €520,000, for a duration of 4 years starting from January 2026.

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