Excellent capacities in research management are essential for institutions and national R&I systems to enhance their research excellence and capitalize on their R&I activities in a knowledge-based economy and society. The Research Management Facility aims at providing institutions in Widening countries that want to establish or upgrade their research management capacities with tailored support. The Research Management Facility also advises on an implementation strategy to introduce changes in the institutional set-up, in line with the ERA priorities. However, the action does not provide support for the implementation of the strategy.

Strong research management ensures effective grant acquisition, resource allocation, compliance with funding regulations, and strategic planning. It supports high-quality research by streamlining administrative processes, facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations, attracting and retaining international high-profile researchers, and optimizing the use of research infrastructures.

Proposals are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Encourage the establishment of stronger research management capacities in Widening countries to enhance their participation in the European Research Area;
• Support institutional reforms in research institutions and national R&I systems to strengthen governance, efficiency, and alignment with European research and innovation priorities;
• Strengthen human capital with entrepreneurial and well-trained research managers;
• Promote and support multidisciplinary and transnational cooperation in the field of research management to foster knowledge exchange, capacity building, and alignment of best practices across institutions and countries;
• Promote of ERA priorities such as research integrity and responsible research and innovation (ethics, public engagement, gender equality, science education, open access) and knowledge valorisation, thereby strengthening the institution’s overall research ecosystem.

Scope:

This action aims at creating a research management facility to provide support services including trainings to research institutions and their staff in Widening countries that want to establish or upgrade existing capacities and competencies in research management. The project should establish a facility inviting research performing organisations from Widening countries to support them in assessing their needs for excellent research management capacities, and develop implementation plans to improve their institutional and human capacities. The facility may also support successful applicants of ERA Research Manager actions in identifying leading research manager internationally.

Proposals are expected to cover at least the following activities:

• Support the assessment of institutional needs in research management, administration and training in close collaboration with the research performing institutions that express interest in their expertise;
• Support the development of a tailor-made implementation plans to establish or upgrade research management capacities at institutional level;
• Facilitate peer exchange and best practice sharing between Widening countries and more experienced institutions to support sustainable capacity building;
• Deliver training modules for research managers in Widening countries to strengthen their skills and professional competences, in line with the European Competence Framework for Research Managers^[1];
• Facilitate networking opportunities for research managers from Widening countries at European and international levels, to strengthen peer exchange, promote best practice sharing, and enhance their integration into the broader research management ecosystem.

Proposals should provide an estimate on the number of institutions and individuals they target during the action that is commensurate to the requested Union contribution. They should describe how they plan to prioritise their support if the demand exceeds the project’ resources. In their proposals, applicants should demonstrate how they will ensure the full geographical coverage of their activities for all Widening countries including Outermost Regions and the relevant Associated Countries.

Documentation and reporting on the support provided, their follow-up and impacts are considered key to the Research Management Facility. Proposals should include a methodology on documentation and feedback to the European Commission on the profiles of the institution supported, the support provided including recommendations developed, follow-up actions implemented by the institutions, and impacts achieved. In view of continuous improvement of support, and gathering and communicating of transferable outcomes, adequate dissemination and communication activities need to be part of the activities.

Proposals should demonstrate the collective competences and capacities, including relevant experiences in the field that are necessary to carry out the activities and achieve the expected outcomes.

[1] RM Comp: The European Competence Framework for Research Managers - European Commission