During RP1, all objectives were addressed according to the foreseen time plan through activities in WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5, and WP6, while the Coordination and Management (WP1) of the project was smooth and according to the original implementation plan. The ERA Chair project was embedded in the UPAT organisation after the start of the project (D2.1 M6). UPAT attracted talented and experienced researchers through open calls (O1 and O5) and was also able to retain local talent to UPAT. Namely four post-doctoral researchers were hired for UPAT collaboration groups, and five PhD candidates (D2.2 M12). Importantly, UPAT attracted a group leader (D2.2 M12) to set up a local group at UPAT and perform joint collaborative projects with the participating UPAT groups, initiating new research initiatives with two of the PhD candidates. Additionally, UPAT appointed research support and administration and management staff, as planned. Two researchers at the host institution of the ERA Chair (The Netherlands Cancer Institute) were also appointed, a project manager and an early career researcher, to facilitate joint collaborative projects.
According to the project implementation plan, activities aimed at strengthening UPAT’s human capital through research and training and are ongoing (O2). For training, we organized seminars on soft skills, a practical course (PC), with significant participation of NKI and UPAT senior staff as well as from UPAT's research community (WP3).
UPAT staff completed four outgoing visits, ‘secondments’ (SCDM). (WP3).
Additionally, we discussed and prepared a plan for dissemination, exploitation, and communication (WP5, D5.4 M6), as well as a data management plan (D5.2 M6). We launched the project's website (WP5, D5.1) at
https://era-esperance.eu/(öffnet in neuem Fenster) which has been operational since the project's inception. We are currently implementing new features for data sharing.
To inform the partners and staff about the project and the partner’s responsibilities and activities the Coordinator organised a kick-off meeting at UPAT in M3 of the project (D1.2). The ‘external advisory board’ (EAB) was formed as planned, including Prof. Harald Schwalbe (Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Prof. Kristina Djinović-Carugo (EMBL Grenoble), and Prof. Anna Akhmanova (Utrecht University, The Netherlands). Moreover, KPIs were collected based on the 5-year period before the start of the ESPERANCE project. These will be monitored throughout the project to measure efficiency and success (D1.3 M7). Research supporting staff was hired and trained to manage the facilities of the participating groups and access was provided to internal and external (academic & non-academic) users (WP4).
Overall, during the first 15 months of the ESPERANCE project, the participating groups performed all planned activities to expand their scientific networks. In addition, UPAT prepared new proposals and grant applications, and they were invited to participate in Academia-Industry EU grant applications and Greek research infrastructure projects to effectively tackle O3 and O4 of the project.
