AI Policy Leaders Programme

The rules for AI are being written right now. Will you be in the room?

The next few years are pivotal for how advanced artificial intelligence will be developed and governed, and whether Europe will be a live actor in shaping that future. This rapidly evolving landscape requires a diverse and experienced pool of people who can build meaningful European influence over AI governance and ensure advanced AI development remains safe and aligned with human values.

The Talos Network Policy Leaders Programme is built for people who have spent years building expertise, credibility, and networks, and who are ready to bring that experience to bear on the defining policy challenge of our time.

Your career has been building to this moment

The programme puts experienced professionals directly in the rooms where important decisions are shaped, working with actors across European institutions, governments, industry, and civil society to strengthen the governance of advanced AI.

You might be a good fit for the programme if:

  • You have at least 8 years of experience in high-stakes environments (government, international organisations, think tanks, industry, or academia) and a strong track record of influencing or interacting with senior decision-makers

  • You're either looking to transition into AI governance, or to bring a stronger AI dimension into your existing work

  • You have relevant experience in government or safety-critical sectors and are motivated to apply it to the most pressing AI governance and safety challenges in Europe

  • You're a self-starter who thrives with autonomy, has a history of creating tangible impact, and is adaptive in the face of uncertainty

  • You're realistic about the challenges of AI governance, but fundamentally motivated by the opportunity to help steer it well

  • “I jokingly said to other fellows that Talos has cared more about my career trajectory and success than many of my previous professors, bosses and parents. I am leaving this programme with a newly re-gained sense of self-efficacy, self-confidence, and support to make the next steps in my career.”

    Spring 2026 Policy Leader Fellow

Two tracks, one programme

This programme is structured to help you leverage everything you’ve already built in your career to date.

A central focus of the programme is helping you leverage your existing network, and strengthen your European AI policy network. Every fellow will leave with strategic clarity and a well-defined career plan with concrete and actionable next steps.

The Placement track is for experienced professionals with 8+ years in policy or adjacent domains who have the readiness and aspiration to make a meaningful career transition into AI governance. These are people with substantial professional capital, for whom a structured, funded placement provides the mechanism to make that transition financially and practically feasible.

The Training track is for senior professionals with 12+ years of experience who want to bring a stronger, AI safety-focused dimension into their existing role, not necessarily transition out of it. These are people who can already move the needle on agendas and conversations from where they sit, and who need knowledge uplift, strategic positioning, and networks.

Not sure which track fits? Get in touch at policyleaders@talosnetwork.org.

Virtual European AI Policy Bootcamp

  • 10 September - 22 October 2026

  • Weekly calls every Thursday, 17:00-19:00 CET

  • Approximately 10 hours per week

  • Designed to be completed alongside a full-time job

During the bootcamp, fellows split their time between self-directed work (with tailored support and accountability from the Talos team) and a structured programme of teaching, Q&As with key actors in European AI governance and small-group discussions. 

Programme Structure

Week-long Policymaking Summit

  • 3 October - 9 October 2026

  • A full-time, fully-reimbursed 6-day summit in Brussels, held mid-bootcamp

  • Prominent guest speakers, workshops, and networking events

The Summit is consistently rated the highest-value element of the programme. It is where abstract knowledge becomes tangible, relationships formed online become real, and fellows participate in closed-door sessions with senior figures across EU institutions, think tanks, and industry.

Paid placement (placement track only)

  • A 12-month paid placement at a relevant AI-focused organisation

  • Base compensation of EUR 5,000/month for Brussels-based placements, adjusted for cost of living in other cities

The placement is the structural mechanism that makes a mid-career transition into AI governance achievable. Programme leads work closely with each fellow to identify the right host organisation, broker the relationship, and provide ongoing support throughout the placement year.

What else this programme offers

  • A wide range of tailored financial support depending on your needs, e.g. funding for coworking space memberships, conference attendance, career transition funding, and much more

  • Intensive 1-1 mentoring and career coaching throughout, from programme leads with deep networks and fluency in European AI governance

  • Access to the wider Talos Network, including alumni from previous cohorts who provide inside knowledge of organisations, roles, and the ecosystem

  • A curated cohort of senior peers from across government, research, industry, and international institutions 

  • Post-programme touch-points and ongoing access to the Talos network

What fellows leave with

The programme is designed to produce four concrete changes:

  • Access to senior policy networks.Fellows enter the programme with limited access to the European AI governance ecosystem and leave embedded in it, with trusted relationships across EU institutions, think tanks, government, and industry that open doors, provide insider intelligence, and lend credibility in conversations that would otherwise be inaccessible.

  • Strategic positioning and role clarity.Through dense one-to-one mentoring and immersive peer exchange, fellows develop a sharper view of where their existing expertise can be most effectively deployed, and leave with a concrete plan for their next steps.

  • Knowledge and field literacy.Fellows don't just leave as AI experts - they leave knowing how to navigate the field of expertise: who the key actors are, how decisions get made, and where the most important work is happening.

  • Confidence, legitimacy and professional identity.A felt sense of belonging in the field, the relational confidence to approach senior figures, and the decisional confidence to act on a transition that previously felt too risky.

FAQs

About

  • The next few years will decide whether Europe shapes advanced AI or is shaped by it. Our Policy Leaders Programme is built for people who've already spent years earning expertise, credibility, and networks, and are ready to bring them to the defining policy challenge of our time. It is an opportunity to join a small, curated cohort of senior policy professionals and take your next step in a career steering AI governance across Europe.

  • The PLP is composed of three complementary elements. 

    • European AI Policy Bootcamp – An online reading group taking place over 6 weeks. You will complete ~8 hours of readings and questions individually, then join a 2-hour online call featuring guest speakers from industry and an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the assigned materials. 

    • Talos Summit – A 1-week in-person event in Brussels with seminars, closed-door sessions and networking events. This is a chance to rapidly upskill and gain context on the state of the field.

    • Many participants complete a paid 12-month placement at a leading think tank or organisation focused on AI safety. 

    During your application, you will choose between the Placement Track and the Training Track. This will determine whether you complete all three elements, or just the bootcamp and summit. 

    1. Training Track – For senior professionals with 12+ years of relevant professional experience (e.g., in governance or AI) who want to strengthen their AI knowledge, strategic positioning, and networks. 

    2. Placement Track – In addition to training, this path includes a paid placement at an AI Safety organisation and is designed for seasoned professionals (8+ years) with strong existing career capital who want to pivot into AI governance.

  • It depends on which track you are selected for:

    • Training Track – ~6 weeks, approx 10 hours per week

    • Placement Track – ~14 months total

      • 6 weeks of approx 10 hours per week of participation in the bootcamp and the Talos Summit,

      • Followed by a 12-month, full-time, in-person placement at a partner organisation.

  • The programmes combine remote and in-person elements:

    • European AI Policy Bootcamp (All Tracks) – Remote

    • Talos Summit (All Tracks) – In-person in Brussels (attendance required)

    • Placement (Placement track only) – In-person, mostly in Brussels. We also have partnerships with placement organisations across Europe, including London, Geneva and Berlin. Remote placements may be considered in exceptional cases.

  • The PLP runs twice per year:

    • Spring cohort starts in January. 

    • Autumn cohort starts in August.

  • The Programme includes both part-time and full-time components:

    • European AI Policy Bootcamp – Part-time (up to 10 hours/week)

    • Talos Summit in Brussels – Full-time (1 week)

    • Placement (Placement Track only) – Full-time (12 months)

  • It depends on the track you are on:

    • Training Track – Fellows are not offered a stipend.

    • Placement Track – Fellows receive a monthly stipend of at least €5,000 for placements based in Brussels. We may offer a higher stipend for outstanding candidates.

    We will cover all travel, accommodation, breakfast, and lunch costs for those participating in the Talos Summit in Brussels.ion

  • Absolutely. You’ll engage with your cohort weekly during the online European AI Policy Bootcamp and in person during the week-long Talos Summit. Participants also collaborate on group discussions and attend speaker events. Our alumni network arranges monthly dinners in Brussels and other European AI Governance Hubs, while we host monthly online meet-ups to discuss the placement experience and offer support. 

  • Our definition of Europe includes member countries of the European Union, the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Norway.

  • One of the goals of this programme is to build a strong network of policymakers working on transformative AI across the European ecosystem (see question “What do you mean by “European” AI policy?”. Therefore, we have a strong preference for candidates with European work rights, as many of the most important roles in European institutions are open only to citizens. 

    As we do not sponsor work visas, applicants must have authorisation to work in Europe, whether via citizenship, residential status, or other means. If you are a Placement Track applicant, you must already be in the process of obtaining authorisation to work and expect to have it granted during or shortly after completion of the Bootcamp. 

    Finally, fellows completing the Training Track do not necessarily need the right to work in Europe. However, it is unlikely that candidates working outside Europe currently hold the type of role or have the experience the Training Track aims to serve – e.g., a primary focus on European policymaking. Therefore, we generally do not accept candidates based outside Europe unless it is an exceptionally relevant opportunity.

  • The PLP has received support from Coefficient Giving, Future of Life Institute, and a number of independent donors. We accept general financial contributions of any amount. If you’d like to help support our work, please get in touch or donate directly here.

  • We aim to have 10 to 15 people in each cohort.

  • AI policy will shape everyone's future, so it shouldn't be built by a narrow few. Talented people from underrepresented backgrounds face real barriers to entering AI policy, and we are working to lower them. We strongly encourage anyone who's unsure whether they belong to apply. Once you're a fellow, we invest in your success through mentorship, support, and a strong host-organisation match.

Applications

  • Find more info at the top of this page. 

  • All applicants should expect to hear whether they have progressed to the second stage of the application process within 4 weeks after the application deadline.

  • Fellows in the Spring Cohort are usually selected in December. Fellows in the Autumn Cohort are usually selected in July.

  • There is no age limit.

  • For Placement Track fellows, your current location does not matter:

    • As long as you are open to moving to Brussels or your national capital for tech policy work, and

    • As long as you have, or are in the process of obtaining, the right to work in the EU or the UK without the support of this programme (we cannot sponsor visas).

    However, please note that we are focused on European AI policy; therefore, this focus on Europe is essential for admission to the programme.

    While fellows completing the Training Track do not need to have the right to work in Europe, it is unlikely that candidates working in positions outside Europe currently hold the type of role the Training Track aims to serve. Therefore, we generally do not accept candidates who are based outside of Europe unless it is an exceedingly relevant opportunity – e.g., 5–10+ years of AI lab experience or policy/lobby experience in the US or relevant middle power countries.

  • We look for experience that shows you can work effectively within policy institutions, or research experience that transfers well into policy – e.g., policy analysis in an adjacent field, research experience, advocacy or convening experience, or past roles in lobbying. Some successful candidates may also have backgrounds in academia, entrepreneurship, or technical AI research.

  • Yes. If you're interested in the Training Track, you'll need a current role in which knowledge of European AI governance would be useful. The Placement Track doesn't require you to be employed but does require about 10 hours per week of free time for the bootcamp, plus the ability to attend the summit.   

  • We aim to support people who have already done the initial exploration and are relatively convinced that AI governance could be a good fit for them. We expect strong applicants to have tested their interest through other means, such as AI governance courses or relevant projects, such as research fellowships. 

  • At each stage, we send detailed instructions on what to expect next. Generally, you can prepare by keeping up to date with AI developments relevant to European AI governance, and by exploring how your skills might be relevant to what’s needed to strengthen the field.

  • Applications will be visible to the members of the Policy Leaders Programme team and may, in some cases, be shared with a very limited number of advisors. With your permission, we may also share it with your potential host organisation for their assessment.

Placements

  • All placements are at well-respected and prestigious organisations & institutions active in European AI policy. Examples include UK AISI, RAND, KIRA, Windfall Trust, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and The Future Society (TFS).​

  • Talos Network brokers introductions to potential host organisations and helps you prepare for initial calls with them. In many cases, you'll be in conversation with more than one organisation at once, giving you multiple potential placement paths to pursue. Within that process, we encourage you to take initiative and find an organisation, team and project that best serves your career. 

  • We have agreed with all placement institutions that fellows will work on relevant and interesting topics. We strive to provide fellows with useful experience to advance their careers in this area and support their career switch, as it is not always easy. To ensure a good fit during placements, we regularly stay in touch with past fellows and host organisations about their experiences. 

  • Fellows typically won’t be onboarded as employees by their host org; they receive their monthly remuneration as an educational stipend directly from Talos Network. In some European countries, this stipend is tax-free. We encourage you to look into your local tax obligations. (see more under the “What is the legal setup of the PLP placement?” question).

  • This fellowship is structured as an educational programme, not employment. Legally, the Fellowship is classified as public and vocational education under German charity and tax law (§ 52 AO), supported through a tax-exempt stipend under § 3 Nr. 44 EStG (Germany). 

    In most cases, this stipend is treated as tax-free income under the applicable rules in the Fellow’s country of residence. Fellows remain responsible for arranging their own health insurance; EU health insurance (EHIC) can typically be used for up to six months.

  • Stipends will be received at the end of each month during the placement. Different payment intervals are possible.

  • Many previous fellows have been hired by their host institutions. However, completing a placement does not require the host organisation to offer a job opportunity – it depends on the fellow’s fit, performance, and the host organisation’s hiring needs. In particular, placements offer you experience, a network, a community, and valuable career paths for work within European institutions.