Reflecting on the BESTPRAC meeting in Lyon: New ideas and connections

On October 14-15, 2024, the recent BESTPRAC meeting in Lyon, organised by members of ENS Lyon and INSAVALOR Lyon, brought together research support professionals from across Europe to exchange knowledge and best practices. Held over two productive days, the event featured a variety of presentations, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities.

During this occasion, the newly appointed BESTPRAC core group was introduced: Núria Parera (Chair, ISGlobal, Barcelona), Primož Petek (Vice-Chair, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia), Cláudia Barbosa (Leader of WG1, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Portugal), Katarina Božanić Sviličić (Leader of WG2, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, Croatia), and Begüm Özcan (Communications Manager, Koç Üniversitesi, Istanbul, Turkey). This new leadership team is entrusted with fostering collaboration, promoting knowledge sharing, and driving continued advancements in the field of research management. In addition to the formal sessions, the networking opportunities proved to be a highlight, as it was a pleasure to meet so many committed professionals and experience the dynamic atmosphere in Lyon. From insightful presentations to meaningful conversations over coffee, the event underscored the importance of collaboration within our community.

As we move forward, we are excited to see how the ideas shared in Lyon will shape our future work. The connections forged during the event will undoubtedly strengthen our network and contribute to ongoing professional development. We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing working group members for their invaluable contributions to BESTPRAC. Their dedication and efforts have established a solid foundation for future initiatives and played a crucial role in advancing the network's objectives. We are eager to build upon their achievements and continue along the path they have paved.

We look forward to the next meeting with great anticipation.