Many scientific associations active in fields relevant to Mechanism and Machine Science (MMS) have programs for young researchers, who may lack experience on scientific networking. The “International Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine Science” (IFToMM) launched its own initiative, called “Young Faculty Group” (YFG), in July 2023; it is structured as a “Cross Disciplinary Group” (CDG), designed to work across research areas. A concept similar in goals and scope has independently been launched in Italy in 2025 by a group of assistant professors, with the support of the “Gruppo di Meccanica Applicata” (GMA), the national association of professors and researchers working on MMS. The “Iniziativa Ricercatori Emergenti” (GMA-IRE) has already held surveys, promoted seminars, and started a newsletter. In this work, we report survey data, discuss how such groups can be effectively organized, and reflect on lessons learned and potential pitfalls. We also briefly report on the organization of Italian academia, to explain the constraints under which GMA-IRE operates. This work aims to support the development of YFG and promote the launch of similar groups in scientific organizations of interest for early-career researchers in MMS.