ERMI – EELISA Research Managers Initiative

ERMI – EELISA Research Managers Initiative – a booster of excellence among research managers in EELISA

• Background. ERMI is born out of the work and dynamics created by the EELISA Policy Liaisons Board (PLB): https://eelisa.eu/eu-policy-making-eelisas-voice-in-ri-policies/. The PLB is a group of experts in EU projects and EU policy-making from each EELISA partner institution. Created in 2022 under the EELISA InnoCORE project, the PLB has worked on different aspects linked to EU policy making and funding: mapping of networks and associations EELISA partners are members of, production of a joint position paper on Horizon Europe or the analyses of action 17 "Research Management Initiative". Before the PLB was created, European Project Offices also gathered together in Istanbul during the first EELISA R&I symposium hosted by ITU to brainstorm about how they could work together and even offer joint support services. In December 2023 and January 2024, the PLB worked on analysing Action 17 “Research Management Initiative” of the ERA policy agenda and how EELISA can take advantage of it. As key conclusions, EELISA PLB members unanimously recognised the key role that research managers (RMs) play for science, research and innovation in their universities.

• Rationale. The complexity that has flooded the research process in recent years has forced researchers to be familiar with many different aspects, loading them with tasks beyond pure research that are diminishing the impact of their work. Within this growing complexity, the figure of the research manager has been gaining greater importance. RMs play a key role in the optimization of resources thanks to their specialization, they help improve strategic planning by knowing the trends and policies in a specific area. RMs facilitate collaboration between researchers and relevant stakeholders in their scientific domain and guarantee compliance with regulations, ethical aspects or intellectual property. They also play a key role in getting funds to carry out research as well as in the correct management of the grants obtained. In summary, research management plays a crucial role in the success of the researchers’ work by making their efforts more focused on generating value through the research activities themselves.

• Mission and vision. Within this context, the mission of the EELISA Community ERMI is to serve as a bottom-up forum for EELISA research managers where they can analyse the needs of RMs, exchange good practices, tips and knowledge, and propose and organise joint actions, including training and networking activities to enhance research and innovation EELISA universities. The ultimate aim of ERMI is to foster a culture of excellence among research managers within EELISA and help improve the skills and competences of RMs, so that EELISA can rely on top research managers. Lastly, the EELISA Community ERMI is intended to be a meeting point for any research manager, including RMs working in other EELISA Communities, supporting as well contacts with peers from other Alliances and organisations.