Abstract

This poster will show the good practices to support the raise of Catalonia’s RMA professionals at a regional level and its impact in the research organizations to improve their chances of obtaining EU competitive funding.

The investment in different incentives and services to strengthen the Research Management capacity has an impact on capitalising the Catalonia regions’ range of external funding. Initially, through grants to strengthen research offices to recruit capable research management support and strengthen their capacity through training programmes. Later by fostering networking and best-practice exchange activities through an informal network supported by the regional funding agency, named AGAUR, aimed at tackling the needs for boosting the management capacity.

The number of Research Managers Network members in Catalonia, raised almost 9 times in 10 years’ time. A study published by AGAUR in 2020 shows that overall, the research management staff in Catalonia assumes broader and more complex responsibilities and functions than they did 10 years ago and is very professional. The results show that the emergence of new challenges and opportunities for RDI have a direct effect on RMAs, who have had to adapt their competencies to face these sustained changes over time. They demonstrate that the chances of RMAs consolidation have increased and that a large number, nearly half of them (47%) have been promoted within their institution. Their tasks are recognized at an institutional level and there is a better acknowledgement in the R+I community of their role and their contribution to the success of European funds attraction, which multiplied by 1.6 in the last 10 years in Catalonia achieving 2,5% of the overall EU allocated funding to Horizon 2020.

A big step is the recognition by the Spanish Science Law (Law 17/22) approved last August 25 modifies Law 14/2011, of June 1, on Science, Technology and Innovation recognizes the express inclusion of technical staff and staff performing management, administration and service functions, as fundamental and essential elements of the same.

Message: There is evidence that Research excellence needs professional research management support. The raise of Research Management professionals in Catalonia has had a direct impact in the region's overall success of external funding. There are already some key steps in RMA's recognition as a key player in the process of attracting and managing research funds.