Boost your institutional strategy: strengthening research management capacity in Europe

Across the European Research Area, universities, research organisations, funders and public authorities are seeking to strengthen research excellence, attract and retain talent, increase competitiveness and maximise the impact of research and innovation. Research management capacity is a key enabler of these ambitions. Research managers support activities ranging from funding strategy, international collaboration and project implementation to research careers, impact, compliance, data stewardship, research infrastructures and institutional development.

This INSPIRING ERA online event on Thursday 15 October 2026 at 10-12 CEST will explore research management as a strategic capacity that supports institutional performance, research excellence and successful engagement in European research and innovation activities. It will highlight why research management matters for institutional performance and ERA priorities, and how organisations can strengthen research management capacity in practice.

Participants will hear from European-level, national and institutional perspectives, including examples of approaches to professionalisation, skills development, competence frameworks, recognition, career pathways, HR and career policy, and institutional models that embed research management more effectively into strategy, governance and leadership.