European and global Research and Innovation Ecosystems (RIEs) are at risk. Planetary tensions have exposed EU vulnerabilities and elevated technology sovereignty to the top of policy agendas. Open RIEs are now contested spaces increasingly being viewed through the lens of protectionism, jeopardizing science as a universal and public good essential for addressing global challenges. Achieving a sound balance between security and openness (S&O) is imperative. To date, however, the lack of scientific evidence prevents us from holistically addressing how technological sovereignty is affecting both the operations of RIEs and the geography of innovation, while the research community struggles with adoption and implementation of fragmented and often impractical guidance. Using the semiconductor industry as a testbed, the Fellowship combines deep theoretical grounding with a strong applied focus. Based on an interdisciplinary multi-methodological approach, the Overall Objective is to pRoducE Actionable poLicy Insights that enable a sound balance between Security and opEnness (REALISE) in EU RIEs. REALISE’s tridimensional impact is intertwined with the pursuit of a holistic approach that advances world-class knowledge and develops governance mechanisms for balancing S&O in RIEs. This approach, developed with contributions from relevant stakeholders – including the private sector – aims to be responsive to real needs, turning RIEs from existing pockets of excellence into thriving ecosystems. Training at prestigious academic institutions in the US and EU, along with the placement at INSIDE (a leading Industry Association focused on Intelligent Digital Systems), will equip the researcher with amplified and cross-cutting skills to become a hybrid investigator to both steer scientific research in academia and support STI domains of policy-making for industrial organizations and institutional settings, while facilitating the dialogue between different actors of the EU RIEs.