The Bucharest Forum Fellowship Program is run by Aspen Institute Romania around the Bucharest Forum, its annual flagship event co-organised with the German Marshall Fund of the US.
Fellows are chosen on the strength of a short original policy paper. They attend the Forum in Bucharest, where their papers are presented and distributed to the audience.
Benefits & funding
- Paper edited by Aspen Institute Romania and published in the Forum’s paper series and on its website.
- Full access to all plenary sessions on 19–20 November 2026, plus networking events.
- Lasting access to the Aspen network.
- Five sponsored travel grants covering the cost of attendance go to selected applicants; no stipend is stated for other Fellows.
Eligibility
- A professional or academic background in security and defence policy, foreign policy, energy and critical materials, technology, or a related field.
- Fluent English, the working language of the Forum and the papers.
- The call states no nationality, residence, age or degree limit.
Can you apply?
Check who can apply
No nationality, residency, education, experience, gender or age limit is listed. The other conditions are under Eligibility.
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Application process
- 1Write an original English policy paper of 1,500–2,000 words on one of five themes: Romania–Poland on the Eastern Flank; securing critical materials; Moldova’s security and stability; the South Caucasus between Russia, Iran and China; maritime security in a “Russian Lake”.
- 2Submit it through the Google Form linked on the call page by 31 October 2026.
Program timeline
Call published
6 October 2026
Application deadline
31 October 2026
Bucharest Forum
19–20 November 2026