Non-Dilutive Funding & Public Affairs Internship (M/F) – September 2026

Non-Dilutive Funding & Public Affairs Internship (M/F) – September 2026

Accelerating Industrial Decarbonization 🌱
Internship Supervisor: Floriane Blanchard, Head of Public Affairs & Non-Dilutive Funding
Location: Gif-sur-Yvette (91190), France
Internship Duration: 6 months
Internship Compensation: €1,300–€1,600 depending on profile

Spark Cleantech is an industrial scale-up that designs hydrogen production units to decarbonize industry. Our innovative patented methane plasmalysis technology simultaneously produces low-carbon hydrogen and high-quality carbon black, all with zero CO₂ emissions and low electricity consumption.

Following the successful deployment of our first industrial pilot at a customer site in 2024 and a major funding round in 2025, we are now building our first industrial-scale standard product.

Spark is made up of:

• An R&D laboratory and a team of plasma engineers and researchers developing our technology.
• A demonstration facility and an operations team tackling industrial scale-up challenges.
• A Finance / Business Development team preparing for commercial deployment.

To continue developing this ambitious project, we are looking for a motivated intern to join our team to secure non-dilutive funding and strengthen our influence with public stakeholders.

Your Mission

At the heart of Spark's financial strategy, you'll join an ambitious team to identify, structure, and secure non-dilutive funding (grants, funding calls, repayable advances) while contributing to Spark Cleantech's public affairs strategy. You will be directly involved in high-impact projects, with rare exposure to the strategic challenges of a fast-growing industrial scale-up.

Non-Dilutive Funding Strategy

Mapping Public Funding Opportunities

• Identify funding calls (France 2030, Horizon Europe, ADEME, Bpifrance, etc.) and regional/national support programs suited to deep tech and industrial decarbonization.

Regulatory Monitoring

• Track changes in eligibility criteria, allocated budgets, and political priorities (e.g., green hydrogen, low-carbon materials, industrial sovereignty).

Competitive Benchmarking

• Analyze funding secured by comparable organizations (deep-tech startups, hydrogen companies, and advanced materials manufacturers).

Grant Application Preparation & Management

Proposal Writing

• Coordinate with technical and finance teams to prepare responses to funding calls (technical descriptions, budgets, environmental and economic impact).

Financial Modeling

• Support the development of financial forecasts and optimize the mix of public and private funding.

Administrative Follow-up

• Manage deadlines, interim reports, and audits (e.g., supporting documentation for Bpifrance).

Public Affairs & Institutional Relations

Stakeholder Mapping

• Identify key contacts within ministries, public agencies (such as ADEME and the Directorate General for Enterprise), and industry clusters.

Advocacy Strategy

• Help define key messages to promote Spark Cleantech's interests with public decision-makers, particularly regarding:
• Carbon black: Positioning within discussions involving traditional producers, industrial users, decarbonization challenges, and European strategic autonomy in materials.
• Hydrogen: Promoting plasmalysis as a strategic, sovereign low-carbon technology.

Institutional Support

• Prepare materials for meetings with public institutions (position papers, presentations).

Political & Regulatory Monitoring

• Analyze laws, regulations, and policy developments affecting the sector.

Cross-Functional Responsibilities (Optional, Depending on Needs)

• Participate in trade shows and conferences to expand Spark's network.
• Support internal and external communications (e.g., press releases announcing successful grant awards).

The Profile We're Looking For

You are currently studying at a business school or political science school (HEC, ESSEC, Sciences Po, Dauphine, etc.), or pursuing a Master's/MBA in economics, finance, public law, or engineering, and are taking a gap year or are in your final year, with a strong interest in industrial and energy-related challenges.

Key Skills:

• Understanding of industrial challenges and public funding mechanisms.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage complex applications under strict deadlines.
• Fluent English (essential for European funding calls).
• Solid understanding of corporate finance fundamentals.
• Interest in industrial and technological topics (deep tech knowledge is a plus).

Soft Skills:

• Independence
• Responsiveness
• Curiosity
• Strong analytical and summarization skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills

Bonus:

• Previous internship experience within a public institution, a grant consulting firm, or a startup that has secured non-dilutive funding.
• Familiarity with financial modeling and tools such as Notion and Airtable.

Above all, we're looking for someone who shares our mission of contributing to the decarbonization of industry!

Does this sound like you? Apply as soon as possible! Be sure to explicitly highlight any projects you've completed that are relevant to this internship in your CV.

The job description also includes information about the location, internship type, working conditions, and responsibilities associated with the position.