Inside the Blue Book traineeship at REA: a real experience in science and innovation

A selfie portraying the Blue Book trainees at REA in the March-July 2026 intake

Hello there! We are Federica and Milan, Blue Book trainees from the March 2026 intake. Are you wondering what it takes to be the next trainee at REA? Worry no more! Together with our fellow trainees Bara and Ines, we take you behind the scenes at REA and share everything you need to know about this experience.

A year of celebrations and insightful events

One of Federica’s highlights was participating in the 30-year celebrations of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme with the people that shape it every day (and in the past 30 years!). From interviewing researchers and sharing their stories across different platforms, to attending conferences and events around Brussels, these months were a full immersion in excellent science.

Federica's traineeship in one sentence:
“This is the fastest train you will ever catch. Keep moving with it, you will never feel left behind.”

A visual reading "Every day is different! From drafting social media posts to interviewing researchers and writing articles for REA’s website, I get the chance to spotlight the different journeys of MSCA-funded researchers."

A journey of learning and discovery

Get ready for a great learning experience! For Bara, the world of EU acronyms and terminologies felt like a different language at first. But then she started working on legal cases of her own, and the acronyms turned into tools she uses in her daily work. The traineeship also gave her the chance to collaborate with other European Commission Directorates and gain a broader overview of the work of teams in different EU institutions.

Bara's traineeship in one sentence:
“5 months that feel like 5 weeks, but where you learn and grow more than you would in 5 years.”

A visual reading: "As a Legal support trainee, I help ensuring research funding goes to legally sound organisations. I research national laws, assess tricky cases and get the chance to explore various legal systems in and outside the EU."

Diverse minds, shared ambition

Trainees at REA have a wide range of profiles. For Milan, who has a background in media studies and journalism, the traineeship proved a valuable opportunity to get rare insights into external communication in European institutions – and how the famous “Brussels bubble” looks like from within.  

Milan's traineeship in one sentence:
“It’s a wild ride – from feeling out of place to settling in, upscaling your skills and knowing what you bring to the table.”

A visual reading: "For me, working at REA has been a true science communication training. I help translating research for a broader audience, finding engaging hooks for social media, or informing researchers about funding opportunities."

The gREAtest destination for a trainee

For Ines, joining REA was not just about becoming part of a friendly and supportive environment, but also about engaging herself in work that matters and diving into the practical side of the European policy process. Over five months, she saw how Horizon Europe funding programmes are implemented, create new solutions for global challenges and help researchers grow in their careers. 

Ines' traineeship in one sentence:
“5 months of new challenges, growth, strong teamwork and work with real impact”.

A visual reading: "As a life sciences researcher, I’m used to planning lab experiments and analysing data. At REA, I get to apply those same planning, problem-solving and creative skills to build a workflow that will be valuable for the Agency. "

Mark your calendars

Applications are open from 22 July to 28 August 2026.

Ready to dive in? Here at REA, trainees are needed in various fields. Bring your passion and follow us on LinkedIn and X to not miss any update.

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Publication date: 8 July 2026
Author: European Research Executive Agency