Talent Academy 2025 Launches: Lasers, Learning, and the Next Generation of Innovators
A new wave of young scientific minds is being invited to explore the cutting-edge world of lasers. The Talent Academy 2025, launched by the HiLASE Centre and ELI Beamlines (ELI ERIC), is now open for applications - offering high school students across Czechia and beyond a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary science, hands-on challenges, and international collaboration. The initiative is part of the broader educational and outreach mission of the LASER-PRO project, supported by Horizon Europe.
A Platform for Young Talent
Now in its eighth edition, Talent Academy 2025 offers a dynamic program for high school students interested in physics, chemistry, robotics, 3D printing, and beyond. The initiative aims to ignite curiosity and build practical skills in emerging scientific fields by immersing participants in laser-focused research and teamwork.
The Academy begins with an online round, where students complete a motivational introduction and a take-home science challenge. Designed to encourage independent thinking and creativity, the task combines theoretical knowledge with an accessible experiment that can be conducted outside of a lab environment. Submissions are accepted until 7 September 2025.
A Laser Journey: From Home Experiments to High-Tech Labs
This year’s theme demonstrates the versatility of lasers beyond measurement - highlighting their use in triggering chemical reactions and recording images with extreme precision. Inspired by traditional photography but enhanced with nanoparticles and laser physics, the challenge will take students through the full cycle: from synthesizing materials to understanding the physics that powers these advanced tools.
The top 12 participants will be invited to the finals, held from 18 to 20 October 2025 at the HiLASE and ELI Beamlines laser centres in Dolní Břežany. Over three days, students will work in international teams, solve interdisciplinary tasks, and present their results - gaining valuable exposure to world-class research infrastructure and mentoring from experts across Europe.
Building Skills for the Future
The Talent Academy strongly emphasizes the development of soft skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, and communication - with activities conducted in both Czech and English to reflect the global nature of modern science.
Beyond the finals, participants can remain engaged through student internships, science outreach, and the Talentovka MeetUP, a community-building event for alumni.
Part of the LASER-PRO Vision
Talent Academy 2025 is one of the education and outreach activities of LASER-PRO - a Horizon Europe-funded Excellence Hub focused on advancing European industry through laser innovation.
The LASER-PRO project unites 18 partners from Czechia, Lithuania, and Ukraine to build a cross-border innovation ecosystem that supports sustainable manufacturing, semiconductor technology, biomedical applications, and digital laser systems. A key part of the project’s mission is to empower future researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs through hands-on learning, mentorship, and access to top-tier facilities.
By engaging high school students in authentic scientific experiences, LASER-PRO aims to inspire the next generation to shape the future of laser technology - and, ultimately, Europe’s position in deep-tech and photonics.
More information and registration details are available at www.talentovka.cz
