Periodic Reporting for period 1 - A4L_ACTIONS (Alliance for Life Sciences: From Strategies to Actions in Central and Eastern Europe)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-10-31
In order to accomplish the vision and mission, in A4L_ACTIONS we have set the course to tackle five sets of objectives that will lead us towards our overall aim: to foster excellence in research and innovation in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We will build upon the strategic approach proposed in the first project of Alliance4Life by implementing actions that promote progress in scientific Culture, Recognition, Careers, Innovation, and Policy in CEE.
Objectives:
CULTURE: Build a culture that nurtures excellence in science.
1. Embed international scientific evaluation as a strategic management tool in CEE health research institutions.
2. Professionalize research management and administration in CEE health research institutions.
3. Foster Responsible Research & Innovation in CEE.
RECOGNITION: Develop recognition and trust towards CEE researchers and research institutions.
4. Enrich European scientific networks by fostering stronger linkage with and among research institutions in CEE.
5. Enable formation of consortia with a participant core and intellectual origin in CEE.
6. Explore the potential of ESIF-funded Research Infrastructures to forge new scientific collaborations.
CAREERS: Nurture scientific talent to globally competitive careers.
7. Develop integrated career frameworks fostering global competitiveness of CEE researchers.
8. Implement advanced training programmes on scientific, transferrable, and soft skills to support career development of talented researchers in CEE.
9. Foster mobility as the key element in scientific careers.
INNOVATION: Increase the local and regional impact of Health research in CEE.
10. Build competence and connections of CEE health research institutions for translation of health research outcomes into innovation.
11. Foster development of regional biotech and biomedicine innovation ecosystems in CEE.
Objectives:
CULTURE: Build a culture that nurtures excellence in science.
1. Embed international scientific evaluation as a strategic management tool in CEE health research institutions.
2. Professionalize research management and administration in CEE health research institutions.
3. Foster Responsible Research & Innovation in CEE.
RECOGNITION: Develop recognition and trust towards CEE researchers and research institutions.
4. Enrich European scientific networks by fostering stronger linkage with and among research institutions in CEE.
5. Enable formation of consortia with a participant core and intellectual origin in CEE.
6. Explore the potential of ESIF-funded Research Infrastructures to forge new scientific collaborations.
CAREERS: Nurture scientific talent to globally competitive careers.
7. Develop integrated career frameworks fostering global competitiveness of CEE researchers.
8. Implement advanced training programmes on scientific, transferrable, and soft skills to support career development of talented researchers in CEE.
9. Foster mobility as the key element in scientific careers.
INNOVATION: Increase the local and regional impact of Health research in CEE.
10. Build competence and connections of CEE health research institutions for translation of health research outcomes into innovation.
11. Foster development of regional biotech and biomedicine innovation ecosystems in CEE.
During this first reporting period (18 months), the project initiated its main activities in the different WPs along the outlined objectives, which included fostering internal and external collaborations, increasing Alliance4Life visibility, amplifying interactions with different stakeholders, and achieving a recognized position for national and European policy-making bodies in order to contribute to national and European research policies.
A4L_ACTIONS has a significant impact on raising awareness and recognition of the excellence in health R&I in CEE. In the first place, this impact result in attraction of researchers and industry from Western Europe and reinforce both mutual collaboration within CEE and the collaboration of CEE researchers and institutions with leading European and global players. Matching with the leading industrial players and further development of promising research results increases the generation of innovations originating in CEE. Further, the project contributes to increasing frequency and competitiveness of CEE participations in Horizon Europe. However, our ultimate goal and vision is not just seeing more CEE institutions in HE projects, but to see them in the role of leaders. A meaningful impact is also the professionalization and recognition of research manager positions with a direct effect on decrease in administrative burden laid on researchers in CEE. With A4L_ACTIONS we hope to assist the transition of CEE from the role of innovation followers, into truly knowledge-based economies.
CULTURE
This new generation of professional RMA will then be ready to drive the change in the day-to-day operation of CEE institutions. On the other hand, we are well aware that research is a mission for the common good, not just a performance competition. For that reason, we guide R&I organizations on how to ensure research integrity – our analysis and report contribute to enabling CEE institutions to adhere to international best practices.
An important impact was achieved within the institutional self-assessment of R&I excellence and research culture by making a complex self-assessment of questions related to institutional practices. This activity provided a basis for assessing the progress of Alliance4Life and for further institutional improvement of the alliance members. The peer-review evaluation piloted by three Alliance4Life´s institutions are fully in line with the current EU reform of research assessment.
RECOGNITION
On Mini-conference, they concentrated and cooperated to tackle major European challenges. New collaborative teams were formed during the Mini-conference and A4L_ACTIONS provided resources to kick-start their joint research actions. The desired impact of the mini-conference is to increase the number of EU-funded research consortia led by coordinators from the CEE region.
The meeting fulfilled its two primary goals. Firstly, it brought together researchers of the A4L_ACTIONS partner institutions and enabled them to get insight into their scientific topics and to stimulate the exchange of ideas and interests for collaboration. Secondly, it facilitated the matchmaking of scientists with industry representatives from biomedical, artificial intelligence, and medicinal chemistry areas. The event opened opportunities for closer mutual communication and future joint activities that could lead to innovations.
CAREERS
Our ESR retreats engaged at least 300 PhD students from across the CEE in a joint event involving scientific presentations, poster sessions, career talks, and skills training sections. We believe this generation of ESRs will gain a positive awareness of the quality of science in CEE. Some of them will become more open to considering postdoc careers in CEE.
The ESR retreat provided interesting learning opportunities for early-stage researchers. The first session introduced trends and traps when conducting research and communicating research results and addressed important issues such as ethics in research and medical professions. Professor Iuliana Ceausu introduced the most essential medical professionalism principles – altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, honour, integrity, and respect for others, and emphasized the necessity of inducing them in the medical curricula for students, residents, PhD students and postgraduate continuing education.
Additionally, ESR retreat participants have the base – knowing colleagues from excellent teams, and having the personal link of the joint retreat experience – to establish and nurture collaborations with their colleagues from CEE
INNOVATION
We believe our continuous engagement with the industry contributes to the dynamic enhancement of industry-academia networks in CEE. The resources developed in A4L_ACTIONS work packages, especially the Excellence Map and Database of Core Facilities, significantly reduce the transaction costs for industry to reach out to relevant academic partners. The knowledge of high-quality R&I landscapes in CEE is already at hand. Thus, we believe to contribute to the almost universally declared goal of RIS3 strategies in CEE countries: to advance the R&I in Health and Life Sciences to improve the quality of life of the citizens and the competitiveness of the regional industries.
CULTURE
This new generation of professional RMA will then be ready to drive the change in the day-to-day operation of CEE institutions. On the other hand, we are well aware that research is a mission for the common good, not just a performance competition. For that reason, we guide R&I organizations on how to ensure research integrity – our analysis and report contribute to enabling CEE institutions to adhere to international best practices.
An important impact was achieved within the institutional self-assessment of R&I excellence and research culture by making a complex self-assessment of questions related to institutional practices. This activity provided a basis for assessing the progress of Alliance4Life and for further institutional improvement of the alliance members. The peer-review evaluation piloted by three Alliance4Life´s institutions are fully in line with the current EU reform of research assessment.
RECOGNITION
On Mini-conference, they concentrated and cooperated to tackle major European challenges. New collaborative teams were formed during the Mini-conference and A4L_ACTIONS provided resources to kick-start their joint research actions. The desired impact of the mini-conference is to increase the number of EU-funded research consortia led by coordinators from the CEE region.
The meeting fulfilled its two primary goals. Firstly, it brought together researchers of the A4L_ACTIONS partner institutions and enabled them to get insight into their scientific topics and to stimulate the exchange of ideas and interests for collaboration. Secondly, it facilitated the matchmaking of scientists with industry representatives from biomedical, artificial intelligence, and medicinal chemistry areas. The event opened opportunities for closer mutual communication and future joint activities that could lead to innovations.
CAREERS
Our ESR retreats engaged at least 300 PhD students from across the CEE in a joint event involving scientific presentations, poster sessions, career talks, and skills training sections. We believe this generation of ESRs will gain a positive awareness of the quality of science in CEE. Some of them will become more open to considering postdoc careers in CEE.
The ESR retreat provided interesting learning opportunities for early-stage researchers. The first session introduced trends and traps when conducting research and communicating research results and addressed important issues such as ethics in research and medical professions. Professor Iuliana Ceausu introduced the most essential medical professionalism principles – altruism, accountability, excellence, duty, honour, integrity, and respect for others, and emphasized the necessity of inducing them in the medical curricula for students, residents, PhD students and postgraduate continuing education.
Additionally, ESR retreat participants have the base – knowing colleagues from excellent teams, and having the personal link of the joint retreat experience – to establish and nurture collaborations with their colleagues from CEE
INNOVATION
We believe our continuous engagement with the industry contributes to the dynamic enhancement of industry-academia networks in CEE. The resources developed in A4L_ACTIONS work packages, especially the Excellence Map and Database of Core Facilities, significantly reduce the transaction costs for industry to reach out to relevant academic partners. The knowledge of high-quality R&I landscapes in CEE is already at hand. Thus, we believe to contribute to the almost universally declared goal of RIS3 strategies in CEE countries: to advance the R&I in Health and Life Sciences to improve the quality of life of the citizens and the competitiveness of the regional industries.