ERA Research Managers

What is this call about?

The call funds research organisations in Widening countries to bring in an experienced ERA Research Manager and build a permanent, high-quality research management team. The institution applies alone as the sole beneficiary.

What does this call fund?

Scope

The call helps universities, research organisations and research infrastructures in Widening countries attract an experienced ERA Research Manager to establish or upgrade their research management capacities in line with ERA priorities. The ERA Research Manager may come from any country but may not already have a contractual relationship with the institution.

What proposals should include

• A Europass CV of the prospective ERA Research Manager, uploaded as an annex.
• A self-assessment of the institution's current research management capacities and needs, and an implementation strategy with targeted actions and training.
• Contractual arrangements, time commitment, on-site presence and remuneration of the ERA Research Manager.
• Team composition, management levels, salaries and recruitment timelines, and the structural reforms to be driven, such as working conditions, HR policies, research governance, grant management and knowledge transfer.
• Quantified expected impacts, such as institutional change, research output and improved research management.

Key conditions for the team

• The ERA Research Manager should hold a position allowing resource allocation, supervision and funding applications; a minimum 50% full-time equivalent commitment, including on-site presence, must be ensured at least until a permanent research management leader is appointed.
• Team recruitment must follow an open, transparent and merit-based process led by an international panel chaired by the ERA Research Manager.
• A permanent leader of the research management group should be appointed within the first three years through an open recruitment process monitored by the European Commission.
• No more than 50% of newly recruited team members should have prior contractual links to the institution.

Eligible costs

The grant covers salaries of newly recruited research management team members, recruitment, travel, equipment and related administrative expenses.

Expected outcomes

Expected outcomes include greater mobility of research management talent towards Widening countries, institutional reforms, a lasting high-performing research management group, and better success in securing competitive funding.

When is the deadline?

14 September 2027 (313 days)