The Research, Development and Innovation Area attends the INORMS 2025 Congress in Madrid to discuss the future of research management

The Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) Area of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech (UPC) has attended the INORMS 2025 Congress, which was held in Madrid from 6 to 8 May. This event, organised by the European Association of Research Managers (EARMA) and hosted for the first time by this association, brought together over 2,200 research management professionals from around the world under the theme "A Sustainable Profession in a Sustainable World".

Considered the largest global gathering of research managers, the INORMS 2025 Congress has been a key platform for the exchange of best practices, the presentation of innovations, and the discussion of global perspectives in the field of research management. During three intense days at the IFEMA Palacio Municipal, attendees explored crucial topics shaping the present and future of the sector.

The participation of the UPC's R&D&I Area has provided first-hand insight into the latest advancements and debates on fundamental aspects such as the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research management, the strengthening of transnational collaboration, the promotion of open science, and the adoption of sustainability practices in all processes. Likewise, issues related to the improvement of research management services, governance and regulation, knowledge valorisation, and the ethical, equity, and diversity challenges in the research ecosystem were addressed.

Among the prominent speakers were relevant figures such as Eva Ortega, Secretary General for Research at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain; Eloísa del Pino, President of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC); and Dipti Pandya, President of EARMA, who underlined the importance of uniting global perspectives to drive sustainable and innovative practices.

A UPC researcher, Jesús Alcober, was also one of the prominent participants at the INORMS Congress Madrid 2025, participating in two crucial discussion sessions for current research management. The first, titled "Open Agora: Empowering Transnational Collaboration", addressed the potential of the Open Agora platform to connect Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) with experts, facilitating transnational collaboration in key areas such as resource sharing, career development, and sustainability. The second session, "Agoras - AI-Powered Research Management", explored how Artificial Intelligence-based initiatives are transforming research management, for instance, by optimising the search for funding and collaborators through integration with European platforms. Alcober's participation in these 'discussion spaces allowed for the sharing of UPC's experience and vision in these strategic fields.

Attendance at this international forum reaffirms the UPC's R&D&I Area's commitment to excellence and the continuous improvement of the research support services offered to the University's research community. The ideas, contacts, and knowledge acquired will contribute to strengthening strategies and tools to face future challenges and enhance the impact of the research and innovation generated at the UPC.

About EARMA and INORMS: EARMA is the leading European network for research managers, connecting academia, industry, and public policy, with over 9,000 professionals. INORMS, for its part, brings together 22 global societies to foster collaboration and best practices in research management worldwide.