Deadline: January 23, 2026
Applications are open for the Salzburg Global Public Policy New Voices Europe (PPNVE) Program – Cohort 5. Through a mix of virtual sessions, mentoring, and in-person engagement, the Public Policy New Voices Europe Fellowship offers a structured year of learning, reflection, and collaboration to strengthen leadership capacity and expand the presence of diverse voices in public policy.
This program aims to:
- Catalyze Transformative Leadership: Equip emerging and mid-career leaders with the knowledge, skills, and strategic networks needed to navigate complex policy, technology, and governance challenges across Europe.
- Advance Responsible Technology and Governance: Explore and develop forward-looking policy solutions that promote ethical, equitable, and sustainable use of technology, strengthen digital governance, and enhance societal resilience.
- Build a Regional Network for Impact: Foster a vibrant, cross-sectoral community of leaders committed to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and scaling solutions that address the region’s most pressing technological and societal challenges.
Main Topics
- Data Governance: As data underpins Europe’s economies, public institutions, and digital services, questions of sovereignty, privacy, and cross-border data flows have become central to the region’s competitiveness and democratic resilience. Europe’s regulatory landscape — from GDPR to the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, and EU AI Act — sets a high bar for protecting citizens’ rights, yet also creates complexity for governments and industry navigating implementation. This theme explores how policymakers can strengthen public trust through coherent and future-proof data governance, ethical and accountable AI use, and greater transparency, while addressing the challenges of regulatory fragmentation across member states, interoperability within the Single Market, and alignment with global standards that support responsible innovation and digital trade.
- Digital Infrastructure: Digital public infrastructure underpins equitable access to essential services – from digital identity systems and public health platforms to connectivity in rural and underserved regions. Yet uneven investment, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and differing national priorities complicate the development of systems across Europe. How can governments ensure these infrastructures are secure, resilient, and inclusive?
- Technological Innovation: Europe’s innovation landscape is shaped by a rich ecosystem spanning government, research institutions, civil society, and industry. However, regulatory complexity, uneven access to funding, and talent shortages can limit the ability to scale transformative ideas. This theme investigates how policy can strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity by supporting dynamic ecosystems, promoting mission-driven research and development, and encouraging cross-border collaboration. Participants will explore how public-private partnerships, pan-European research networks, and emerging technologies can drive societal progress, enhance competitiveness, and ensure Europe remains at the forefront of responsible, values-based innovation.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Public Policy New Voices Europe, applicants must:
- For the duration of the Fellowship, be living, studying, or working in one of these European countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
- Be a student, graduate, or early career professional interested in or working within public policy, public service and policy development in Europe.
- Be passionate about using public policy to build inclusive and democratic societies that value diversity, equity, and participation for all citizens.
- Demonstrate openness, curiosity, and a commitment to learning from diverse perspectives.
- Be comfortable communicating in English, the working language of Salzburg Global.
Application
Deadline for applications is 5pm CET January 23rd, 2026.
For more information, visit Salzburg Global Public Policy New Voices Europe.
