Professional development of educational researchers in cross-sector and cross-border mobility: evidence from a reflexive study of the EdTech Talents project

Purpose The digitalisation of education, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and further reshaped by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, has intensified both opportunities and structural challenges within educational systems. These transformations have widened gaps between educational technology (EdTech) companies and educational researchers, as well as between advanced and widening research systems. The study examines how cross-border and cross-sector researcher mobility, implemented through the Horizon Europe EdTech Talents project, contributes to the professional development of educational researchers beyond traditional academic performance indicators. Design/methodology/approach Adopting an exploratory collaborative qualitative research design, the study draws on empirical data collected within a multi-country European mobility program. Empirical data include reflections from project meetings, document analysis, and semi-structured focus group interviews involving academic researchers, university administrative staff, and EdTech company employees. Reflexive thematic analysis and collaborative data analysis were used to analyse empirical data. Findings The findings indicate that cross-sector and cross-border mobility supports professional development through experiential learning, the development of industry-relevant knowledge services, and the expansion of professional networks. The findings highlight that understanding of EdTech innovation processes and shifts in professional identity toward more applied and collaborative roles was increased Key challenges included translating academic expertise into industry-ready solutions, limited institutional recognition of secondment experiences, and the absence of structured tools for assessing professional development outcomes. Overall, the potential of structured mobility programs to foster brain circulation rather than brain drain, particularly in widening research systems. Practical implications The study offers actionable insights for policymakers and research organizations designing mobility schemes aimed at strengthening innovation ecosystems and promoting sustainable knowledge circulation. The findings underscore the need for structured assessment frameworks and institutional recognition mechanisms to support long-term career development and maximize the impact of cross-sector researcher mobility. Originality/value By focusing explicitly on professional development processes within a structured researcher mobility program, this study provides novel, collaborative and reflexive process-oriented insights into mobility-driven knowledge services that strengthen academia–industry collaboration and address disparities between advanced and widening countries.