Within the scope of the Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project, Project Manager Cem Öztürk and Dr. Cansu Akın Levi, Business Development and International Projects Expert at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University (ACU) Technology Transfer Office (TTO), took part in the Research Managers International Staff Week, hosted by the University of Malta (UM) from 21 to 23 October 2025.
Organised annually by the UM Research Support Services Directorate (RSSD), the event serves as a platform for research management professionals across Europe to exchange expertise, explore institutional best practices, and build lasting collaborations. This year’s programme was designed to introduce participants to the UM’s comprehensive research support ecosystem – including the RSSD, Project Support Office (PSO), Corporate Research and Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO), and Doctoral School.
The three-day event aimed to strengthen cooperation and knowledge exchange among research managers by enabling visiting participants to meet their counterparts at UM and gain first-hand insight into the university’s research support mechanisms. The programme combined institutional presentations, interactive discussions, site visits, and best practice-sharing workshops.
During the event, GEMSTONE Project Manager Cem Öztürk delivered a 15-minute presentation showcasing GEMSTONE’s best practices in strengthening research management and administrative capacity in Widening countries. Their talk attracted significant interest among the 37 attending research managers representing institutions such as Eurac Research, King’s College London, Masaryk University, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Università degli Studi di Palermo, University of Gdansk, University of Iceland, University of Malta, and University of Milan.
In addition to the presentation, the GEMSTONE team distributed approximately 40 printed copies of the project’s new best practice publication, “Making It Work: GEMSTONE Project's Better Practices for Horizon Europe Newcomers,” along with GEMSTONE information brochures, further promoting the project’s outcomes and tools to the international research management community.
“The staff week provided a valuable opportunity to connect with peers, exchange knowledge, and learn from other institutions’ approaches to supporting research and innovation,” said Dr. Cansu Akın Levi of Acıbadem University Technology Transfer Office. “It was inspiring to see the shared commitment across Europe to professionalise research management and strengthen institutional capacity,” added Cem Öztürk.
The programme featured a rich line-up of sessions, including: networking opportunities; presentation on UM research strategy by the UM Pro-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer; presentation on UM funding procedures and best practices by UM Funding Senior Manager; sessions on project support (pre- and post-award), knowledge transfer, legal services, lab support, and UM Doctoral School; guided tours of Msida and Valletta campuses; workshop on using AI to facilitate the funding process by the Head of AI Department; two sessions dedicated to sharing of best practices by visiting universities.
Participation in this event marks another important step in GEMSTONE’s mission to exchange best practices in research management, foster international collaboration, and promote institutional excellence in R&I support.
