RESEARCH CULTURE
The institutional environment and internal culture are crucial for fostering and sustaining research excellence. The project partners analysed the relationship between research conditions, governance, and research evaluation, utilising best practice examples. The partners embedded international scientific evaluation as a strategic management tool and promoted this approach also across other health research institutions in the CEE region because it was obvious that independent scientific evaluation has a positive impact on research excellence.
The A4L Database of Experts significantly enhances the research ecosystem by providing detailed information on leading experts, including their areas of expertise and other relevant details needed for targeted searches for experts.
The RMA Academy enhanced the skills and expertise of research managers and administrators, delivering a range of workshops and training activities essential for supporting excellent research and innovation.
RECOGNITION and SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
The project partners reinforced collaboration in life sciences research in CEE countries and provided incentives and opportunities for researchers to form project consortia. This goal was pursued through a series of small scientific symposia, known as A4L Mini-Conferences, where top researchers discussed their findings and established collaborations. During these events, matchmaking sessions highlighted available funding opportunities, including the internal A4L Seed Fund call, to support collaborative research aligned with each Mini-Conference theme.
CAREERS
The project consortium has contributed to the development of human capital in partner institutions and beyond. The project partners invested time and effort into skills training and facilitating knowledge exchange between research management professionals from all partner institutions. The partners jointly created a White Paper that provides more clarity and harmonisation to balance responsibilities between research, teaching, and medical practice in university hospitals and medical faculties. The set of recommendations helps to overcome obstacles and successfully combine these three professional roles, leading to a more attractive and effective academic environment.
INNOVATION
The project partners supported the development of innovation ecosystems, enhancing technology transfer knowledge to boost innovation performance. The Alliance4Life consortium addressed region-specific technology transfer challenges in Central and Eastern Europe and made this report publicly available on the website to guide TT professionals from the region. This document offers a comprehensive strategy to foster innovation and facilitate successful technology commercialisation in the region. The knowledge transfer professionals participated in joint training sessions and shared best practices with each other as well as on regional professional platforms and during TT relevant events.
POLICY
The project partners encouraged policy reforms and opened dialogues with the policymakers through the national Trigger Events that took place in all member countries. Moreover, those events had a major impact on the regional spillover effect of the previously piloted best practices and project deliverables. The members published an often-cited policy paper about widening measures and organised a policy meeting with critical stakeholders at the end of 2023 in Brussels where the results of the policy paper were presented.
