The University of Cyprus (UCY) recently participated in the 2nd Research Management Training of the TWIN2EXPAND project, hosted by the Politecnico di Torino (POLITO) from 18–20 November 2024. The training, which followed an earlier online session in September, focused on enhancing the administrative and strategic capacities of UCY staff in research management, grant writing, stakeholder engagement, and the exploitation of research outcomes.
This hands-on training was designed to strengthen UCY’s ability to lead and contribute to Horizon Europe proposals. Participants benefited from expert-led sessions, interactive discussions, and site visits to cutting-edge research labs including the Modeling Lab at the Energy Center and the Drawing to the Future Lab at DISEG.
Key sessions covered:
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Grant Writing & Proposal Planning: Including a practical workshop on Horizon Europe calls focused on Efficient, Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Use.
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Research Data Management and Open Science: Addressing data handling and transparency in EU-funded projects.
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Stakeholder Engagement: Sharing best practices in effective communication with partners and the public.
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Communication and Dissemination Strategies: Highlighting the importance of public engagement and visibility for impact.
A significant highlight was the collaborative planning session for future proposals under the Horizon Europe framework, where UCY and POLITO experts explored common interests and strategies to ensure alignment with EU priorities.
By capitalizing on POLITO’s institutional know-how, UCY has enriched its research support infrastructure, gaining critical insights into transforming research outputs into impactful societal contributions. The training marks a strategic step towards achieving excellence in future proposals, leveraging European best practices to expand UCY’s role in interdisciplinary urban research.
