Systems Methods Context

Project Information

SyMeCo

Grant agreement ID: 101081459

DOI

10.3030/101081459

EC signature date 4 October 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 1 528 320,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF LIMERICK
Ireland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SyMeCo (Systems Methods Context)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The SyMeCo (Systems, Methods, Context) research training programme proposes a transformative agenda, one that is cognisant of the changing landscape of software development, while seeking to shape it. The key research strands underpinning SyMeCo’s research agenda explore what we build (Systems), how we build these systems (Methods), for the world we want (Context). Digital transformation is perhaps most apparent in what we build (Systems) – the focus is no longer on stand-alone systems; rather we are concerned with connected cyber-physical-social systems, systems of systems that are increasingly expected to be autonomous and adaptive to the run-time environment in which they operate. How we build these systems (Methods) is also changing – development processes and tools no longer follow plan-driven approaches; rather we have progressed through agile to lean-inspired initiatives such as continuous software engineering and flow. Software is also developed in communities and ecosystems, inspired by the open-source philosophy. Finally, society expects that systems should embody the values to which we aspire for the world we want (Context). It is not sufficient to merely fulfill technical requirements. The prominent lawyer and political activist, Lawrence Lessig, has argued that Code is Law, recognising that the algorithms and systems which increasingly underpin our economy and society today are expressed in software code that is not easily accessible to the average citizen. Thus, we need to ensure that systems deliver on values such as privacy, trust, inclusion, and fairness, and facilitate responsible innovation.

SyMeCo is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) COFUND research training and career development postdoctoral fellowship programme coordinated by Lero - the Research Ireland Centre for Software (https://lero.ie). The programme will fund 16 two-year postdoc fellowships in Ireland. The fellows will work on SyMeCo's exciting research agenda, engaging with Lero researchers and industry partners and developing their professional network in the academic and non-academic sectors. The research training programme was specifically designed to address the fellows' needs and the changing needs of the software sector. On completion of the fellowships, fellows will have enhanced their career prospects by developing discipline-specific and complementary research skills, and transferable skills. They will also complete a secondment to a secondment host to suit their research project and career development needs and participate in an international research visit to a research collaborator. The fellows will be trained as highly skilled future research leaders that are attractive to industry, the public sector, or academia acquiring skills to help in Shaping Europe’s Digital Future and contribute to the European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles. SyMeCo will also positively impact Lero’s academic and industry partners, enhancing Lero’s reputation as a world-class research centre and a leading developer of research talent.

The initiative is co-funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme and by Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland).

The SyMeCo programme’s main objectives are to provide: (i) Research opportunities at Lero in strategic priority areas in software research, (ii) International mobility, interdisciplinary and intersectoral exposure, and international networking opportunities, and (iii) Training and career development opportunities.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Programme launch: The launch event was held at the Lero headquarters at the University of Limerick. It was well attended. The attendees were very interested in the programme, and there was a lot of discussion during the networking event. There was excellent press coverage in the media. Articles were published in a number of leading online news outlets and print media.

Programme promotion: SyMeCo developed a visual identity for the programme, including a logo, brand assets and a dedicated website (https://symeco.lero.ie/) and X account (https://twitter.com/SyMeCoCOFUND). Our strategy focused on attracting high-quality applications and internationally publicising the programme through various channels and means including call publication in Euraxess, launch event, press releases, published articles, websites, social media, and call dissemination through national and international networks, international conferences and distribution lists.

Evaluation and Selection: SyMeCo published two internationally advertised calls for proposals. The first and second calls evaluation and selection processes were highly competitive. They were based on international peer review followed by an interview stage. Overall, SyMeCo received 87 eligible applications for a total of 16 fellowships available. The fellows were selected following an open, transparent, merit-based, impartial and equitable selection procedure. The selection was based on international peer review, followed by an interview stage. The recruitment for the 10 fellows funded in the first call has been completed, and the recruitment for the 6 fellows funded in the second call is ongoing. The second call fellows are due to commence their fellowship in July 2025.

Gender balance: SyMeCo implemented a targeted dissemination strategy to improve its reach to potential female applicants, which was very successful. Overall, 29% of the eligible applications were from female applicants, and 25% of the SyMeCo fellows funded were female. These figures are higher than the European average for female doctoral graduates in ICT (22%)* and higher than the female representation for the fellows recruited in the ALECS COFUND programme (20%) successfully implemented and coordinated by Lero. Therefore, 25% female representation across SyMeCo fellows is a significant achievement given the challenging recruitment environment

The training programme is being implemented, and the fellows funded in the first call have already participated in various training and career development opportunities. In addition, some fellows have already delivered peer-reviewed publications or submitted publications. Furthermore, the fellows have completed communication and outreach activities. There is a full training schedule planned as well as secondments. All fellows will avail of the complete training programme.

* European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, She figures 2021: gender in research and innovation: statistics and indicators, Publications Office, 2021, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/06090

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

SyMeCo will provide a comprehensive research training programme to 16 fellows in Lero's unique research environment positively impacting the fellows’ career prospects.

The programme aims to develop future software research leaders to the highest international standards through implementing an individual research project supervised by a leading Lero researcher, development and regular review of a career development plan, secondment to an industry or academic partner to suit the research project, and the completion of the SyMeCo training programme which includes modules in discipline-specific and complementary research skills and transferable skills. In addition, the fellows will have ample networking opportunities. For example, they will be provided with a generous travel budget to attend international conferences, workshops and an international research visit to a potential collaborator of their choice.

The programme will also increase standards for the recruitment, evaluation, hosting and training of fellows throughout Lero academic and industry partners involved in the programme. In addition, SyMeCo will help strengthen the human capital base in Europe and increase its attractiveness as a leading R&I destination by developing highly skilled software researchers and providing intersectoral, interdisciplinary and international mobility. Furthermore, the programme will also positively impact academic and industry partners by strengthening established and developing international networks. Finally, SyMeCo will enhance Lero’s reputation as a world-class research centre and a leading developer of research talent.

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