Testimonial

1. If there is a formal national network in your country, how has this helped you to spread awareness about the RM Roadmap project? If there is no formal network present, please describe your community-building activities.

In Croatia, there is no formal national network or association supporting research managers. However, research managers have formed connections and communication channels among themselves in various ways to assist each other and share experiences, primarily through university mailing lists and local meetings. While no larger global initiatives were present at the national level, networking and knowledge-sharing among research managers have been facilitated through events and initiatives organised by Legal & Financial and MSCA National Contact Points.

The long-standing collaboration within this community played a vital role in the successful engagement of Croatian research managers in the RM Roadmap project. To further promote the initiative, we conducted an intensive promotional campaign, which included sending invitations for the first Co-Creation session to over 1000 email addresses. The campaign also utilised various channels such as social media (EURAXESS Croatia Facebook and LinkedIn), national Horizon Europe webpages, University of Rijeka and University of Split webpages, as well as the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes, and the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth webpages. Furthermore, NCPs’ newsletters and multiple meetings between ambassadors and associate ambassadors were instrumental in encouraging participation.

We also worked closely with the Croatian CARDEA partner, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, which helped in spreading the message and increasing engagement with the RM Roadmap activities. Through these collective efforts, we were able to raise awareness and drive involvement in the RM Roadmap project despite the absence of a formal network.

Finally, we have received significant support from the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth, which has greatly supported our initiatives. The Ministry not only supported Action 17 but also provided essential support for the national conference for research managers. Their support has been valuable in strengthening the research management community in Croatia and advancing initiatives such as the RM Roadmap.

2. Through your experience of RM Roadmap co-creation session 1, what challenges do national RM communities encounter in contributing to national and European R&I systems? Please state whether the presence or absence of a formal national network is a factor in these challenges.

Through our experience with the RM Roadmap co-creation session 1, several challenges have been identified that RM communities in Croatia face in contribution to both national and European R&I systems.

The most significant challenge is the lack of a formal network or a permanent platform for collaboration among research managers in Croatia. This absence makes it difficult for research managers to collaborate effectively, share resources, and address common challenges. Without such a network, research managers face difficulties in building their capacity, upskilling, and gaining the recognition needed for their work. This circumstance limits their ability to contribute effectively to both national and international R&I ecosystems.

Additionally, financial support for upskilling remains a major obstacle. There are limited funding opportunities dedicated to the professional development of research managers, especially at the institutional level. Many institutions do not allocate resources for capacity building or training, which forces research managers to rely on project funds, overheads, or personal connections for professional development. However, a positive example has been the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth's adoption of a Decision supporting national participation in EU programs for research, innovation, and space, which includes funding for training and networking activities for research managers.

Another challenge is the lack of formal education specifically tailored for research managers in Croatia, which limits the development of essential skills and competencies required for effective research management.

3. From your involvement in the RM Roadmap project process so far, have you noticed an increase in engagement within your national RM community?

Indeed, the RM Roadmap project has boosted engagement within the Croatian research management community. The Croatian community is now one of the largest on the Knowledge and Community Platform, with over 130 members and 2250 views, clearly indicating a need for a more sustainable approach to collaboration among research managers in Croatia.

Momentum for research management has been strong not only across Europe but also here in Croatia. We often say that 2023 was the "Year of Research Management" in Croatia. Beyond our involvement in the project, we organised a noteworthy national conference specially tailored for research managers, covering topics highly relevant to the field, such as Action 17, RM Roadmap, and the CARDEA project. The conference was a tremendous success, reinforcing the need for a more structured and unified RM community in Croatia.