CARDEA

Obrisani Korisnik — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 06:08:10 GMT

Career Acknowledgement for Research (Manager) Delivering for the European Area – CARDEA is a project funded by the Horizon Europe program within the framework of the European Research Area. The project aims to maximize the impact of EU research and innovation funding (HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ERA-01-20).

About the project

The field of research management, as a professional activity, faces the challenge of low visibility in the context of public policy, career advancement, and the institutional stability of positions at the European level. The CARDEA project is structured to provide administrative and strategic support to mitigate these inequalities. The empirical basis of the project consists of an extensive study (500+ respondents across 24 countries) to define the relevant knowledge space and characterize the identified issues.

The conducted analyses have developed a range of solutions, primarily capacity maturity models for evaluating and improving the activities of research managers, alongside establishing the European Research Manager Hub as a platform for education and the transfer of good practices. A part of this platform is the Cardea Academy, where 17 modules offer acquisition and improvement of micro-credentials and skills required for working in the field of research management.

The guiding principles in conducting the research and training include equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), strengthening cohesion (the EU13 country group), and integrating public-private partnerships.

The project plan also includes measures for transnational mobility and the networking of research managers and the institutions responsible for their development, which forms a robust evidence base to advocate for institutional changes at decision-making bodies. The outcomes of the CARDEA project include a sustainable network and collaboration platform, a verified career evaluation methodology, and criteria for objective progress tracking. To ensure sustainability, a Charter for Research Managers was formulated, providing a formal agreement for institutions that demonstrate a strong commitment to the structured development of this profession.

Main Partner: University College Cork (Ireland)

Project Manager: Ivona Peternel, PhD

Project Number: 101058572

Program: Horizon Europe

Total Project Budget: €1.498.312,00

Juraj Dobrila University of Pula Budget: €163.000,00

Project Start: June 1st, 2022

Project End: July 31st, 2026

Link: UCC CARDEA Website

Project Results

The primary objective of the CARDEA project is to professionalise research management as a valued and sustainable career choice with clearly defined competencies and progression.

The project is implemented through six specific (SMART) objectives:

SO1: Mapping European career pathways and certification
SO2: Developing institutional capacity maturity models
SO3: Developing a competency framework for research managers
SO4: Launching a digital European Research Hub
SO5: Active advocacy and policy impact
SO6: Implementing equality and inclusion standards

Project Results

Cardea Hub: A central European platform for collaboration, learning, and networking among research managers.
Training Programs: 17 new educational programs and micro-credentials for skill development.
Models and Tools: A Training Needs Analysis (TNA) self-assessment tool and a model that measures how successfully institutions develop this profession.
Charter & Concordat: Standards of excellence that institutions sign to guarantee better working conditions.

UNIPU - CARDEA

CARDEA

About the project

Project Results

Partners