Economic Fitness and Economic Complexity (EFC) Summer School

The Economic Fitness and Economic Complexity (EFC) Summer School is back, after the success of the first two editions. The third edition will take place at the Enrico Fermi Research Center (CREF, Rome) from 9 to 13 June 2025. The EFC Summer School is an extensive introduction to the economic complexity framework, with theoretical and practical lessons, and interactive activities for young scholars. On 13 June, the program will include  YSI Special Sessions, which will also be accessible online. 

The first four days will focus on theoretical and practical classes covering the following topics: economic complexity measurement, network theory, machine learning, measurement of relatedness. Theoretical lectures will be followed by coding labs, where participants will have the chance to apply the methodologies introduced in class, and to carry out assigned group projects, focusing on the school core themes. On the fifth day, world-wide renowned scholars will be invited to present their frontier research linking economic complexity with economic development, economic geography, labour economics, sustainability, economics of science, and innovation policy. On the same day, the school will feature activities led by the YSI team specifically aimed at allowing students to share their research ideas with experienced scholars in the field, network with the complexity community, and bolster their participation in future activities of the Complexity Economics Working Group.

The summer school is open to postgraduate students, early-career researchers and practitioners from any area and discipline. We are aiming at around 45 participants, who will join in-person in Rome. Applicants will be required to submit an application using the registration form, where they will be asked to upload a CV and a short statement (max 5000 characters) indicating how the school relates to their research interests, if they applied to previous edition of the school, and in which way they think they may benefit from the programme. In order to increase participation opportunities for young scholars, we will allow free online participation during the last day of the school. YSI will offer a limited number of travel stipends for selected young scholars (i.e.PhD students) to partially cover participation expenses. 

For in-person participants, the fee will be 400 EUR for students (including PhD) and 650 EUR for all other participants. The fee includes lunches and coffee breaks during the five days of the school. Below the key dates: 

• Opening applications: 1 February 2025
• Closing applications: 15 March 2025
• Communication of results: 31 March 2025
• Confirmation by the students and fee payment: 15 April 2025
• School: 9-13 June 2025

Call for applications, application form, and all information related to the school – including contents and programmes from past editions – are available from the EFC School website.
For information, please contact the organising committee at: efcschool@cref.it