The ENGAGE project held its first training event in Tampere, Finland, on 15–18 June 2026, bringing together doctoral candidates, supervisors, academic partners, and industry representatives from across the network. As the first joint training and networking event of the project, the week marked an important milestone in building the ENGAGE community and setting a strong foundation for the years ahead.

The programme combined scientific sessions, project management guidance, discussions on open science and reporting, dissemination training, responsible AI, social activities, and a site visit to Novatron. Doctoral candidates presented their individual research projects alongside the scientific work packages, creating valuable opportunities for early exchange, collaboration, and networking across the consortium.

One of the strongest messages from the event was the shared commitment of all participants to the ENGAGE network. The atmosphere throughout the week was active, open, and highly engaged, demonstrating that the consortium is fully committed to supporting the doctoral candidates and to working together toward the project’s common goals.

The feedback received from the event was very positive. Participants especially appreciated the opportunity to meet each other in person, establish professional connections, and gain a clearer understanding of the network, its research objectives, and the support structures available to them. The event successfully strengthened collaboration between academic and industrial partners and helped create a sense of belonging within the ENGAGE community.

At the heart of ENGAGE are the doctoral candidates. The training events, supervision structures, secondments, and networking activities are designed to support their research, professional development, and future careers. By offering scientific training, transferable skills, industry exposure, and international collaboration opportunities, ENGAGE aims to equip its doctoral candidates with the knowledge, confidence, and networks they need to thrive during and beyond their doctoral studies.

The first ENGAGE training event showed that the network has started with strong momentum. With motivated doctoral candidates, committed partners, and a clear focus on career development, the project is well positioned to build a vibrant international training community for the next generation of experts in mobile working machines.