The EU-CONEXUS Enables project, funded by the European Union, continues to support innovation and collaboration through its Short-Term Mobility initiative for postdoctoral researchers. The initiative enables postdocs to meet their potential future supervisors, facilitating knowledge exchange and opening doors to future research partnerships.

Through this programme, partners from so-called widening countries – Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (Romania), Frederick University (Cyprus), Agricultural University of Athens (Greece), Klaipeda University (Lithuania), and University of Zadar (Croatia) – have self-funded a series of mobility exchanges and job-shadowing visits to leading research institutions in non-widening partner institutions: La Rochelle Université (France), Catholic University of Valencia (Spain), University of Rostock (Germany), and South East Technological University (Ireland). These visits allow postdocs to gain insights into best practices in research management, Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R), the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (COARA), research careers, and research culture. By bridging knowledge gaps and strengthening networks, this initiative aims to create a foundation for fellowship applications and long-term academic collaborations.

A Growing Impact: Postdocs Benefitting from Mobility

Already, ten postdocs have seized this opportunity, engaging in international research visits and online meetings with experts that broaden their expertise and open new avenues for collaboration. Their experiences highlight the value of the initiative, from gaining technical skills to fostering meaningful professional relationships. South East Technological University (SETU) and Catholic University of Valencia (UCV) were the most visited institutions during the activities timeline.

Collaboration in Action: Success Stories from the Initiative

SETU recently welcomed four visiting researchers from the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB) through the EU-CONEXUS Enables project. Over an intensive two-day visit, researchers Andrei Popescu, Ioana Teodorescu, and PhD students Anca Ene and Ioana Popescu explored SETU’s cutting-edge research landscape, engaging with faculty and research teams to identify potential collaboration opportunities.

The delegation met with esteemed SETU researchers, including Dr Eoin Homan, Dr Yvonne Kavanagh, and Dr Ashish Vashishta, among others, discussing synergies in sustainability, engineering, and digitalisation. A key highlight was a collaborative workshop led by Anne Crowley, which sparked dynamic discussions on future funding applications and joint postgraduate supervision. The delegation took a tour of SETU’s premier research centres – including the SEAM Research Centre, the SABRE Research Centre, and the Walton Institute – offering the UTCB researchers’ hands-on exposure to state-of-the-art facilities. From CT scanners and 3D printers to AI-driven smart systems, the experience deepened their understanding of cutting-edge research methodologies.

Mike Kinsella on colleagues’ visit to SETU:

“We were delighted to welcome Andrei, Ioana, Anca, and Ioana as visiting researchers from UTCB for a short mobility trip to SETU as part of the EU-CONEXUS Enables project. It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the research projects they are undertaking in the area of sustainability in the built environment and digitalisation. The UTCB researchers met with several research leads across multiple campuses at SETU, including from the faculty of engineering, computing, and the Walton Institute, and several opportunities for collaborations in research projects were identified.”

Advancing Marine Conservation Research: A Personal Testimony

Greta Srėbalienė, Klaipeda University (KU), on her mobility to UCV experience:

“My short-term mobility experience was incredibly enriching! During my stay at IMEDMAR, I focused on biofouling assessment and invasive species monitoring, gaining valuable hands-on experience in field data collection. IMEDMAR’s expertise in marine environmental monitoring aligned perfectly with my research interests, helping me enhance my skills and reinforce my passion for invasive species management.”

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Alliance Research Networks

Networking can lead to shared funding opportunities, joint supervision, and innovative projects with real-world impact. The EU-CONEXUS Enables Short-Term Mobility initiative is proving to be a transformative opportunity for postdoctoral researchers, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and enhancing research excellence across Europe. By continuing to support these exchanges, EU-CONEXUS strengthens its mission to create a dynamic, innovative, and interconnected research community. 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.