Expert visit of research managers from Comenius University to the University of Milano-Bicocca within the FORGENOM II project

On 13–17 April 2026, an expert visit of research managers from Comenius University in Bratislava took place at the partner University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB) in Italy. The visit was organized within the FORGENOM II project and focused on strengthening competencies and knowledge in research management, grant support, and institutional capacity building.

The visit was part of Work Package 2 – Enhancement of research management and administration skills, aimed at expert visits and mentoring of research managers. The goal of such visits is to exchange experience with international partner institutions, acquire best practices, and develop the professional skills of research support staff.

International exchange of know-how in research management

The program consisted of a series of expert trainings, workshops, and working meetings with representatives of research and project support at the University of Milano-Bicocca. Participants became familiar with the functioning of the grant cycle at UNIMIB—from the pre-award phase (project preparation), through the grant agreement preparation process, project management, and project closure, as well as support for PhD students and early-career researchers throughout all project phases.

Special attention was given to the preparation of project proposals within the Horizon Europe programme, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and the European Research Council (ERC), as well as mentoring activities and practical training aimed at developing project skills of early-stage researchers.

Public engagement as the university’s “third mission”

A highly inspiring topic was also public engagement and outreach, which the University of Milano-Bicocca systematically develops within the concept of the so-called “Third Mission / Terza Missione.” Alongside education and research, this represents the third strategic pillar, focused on public engagement, knowledge sharing, and the societal impact of research.

Participants of the expert visit gained insight into processes that support the active involvement of the academic community in communication with society, as well as the importance of strong institutional support from university leadership.

Cooperation with the partner university

The expert visit was attended by representatives of grant and project offices of Comenius University in Bratislava and project managers involved in the FORGENOM II project. On the Italian side, expert partners included staff from several support and academic structures of the University of Milano-Bicocca, including the Department of Informatics, Systems and Communication, whose employees are involved in the implementation of professional tasks within the FORGENOM II project.

Follow-up activities

Following this expert visit, a reciprocal visit of representatives of the Italian partner to Comenius University in Bratislava is planned in the near future, focusing on mentoring research managers and further transfer of know-how. The preparation of this visit will take place in cooperation with rectorate offices and relevant university departments.

Through international expert visits, the FORGENOM II project systematically contributes to the professionalization of research support, the improvement of project service quality, and the strengthening of international cooperation at Comenius University in Bratislava.