Objective 1: Enhance research excellence of UCY and Cyprus in the MERIT field
Obj. 1.1 Enhance the scientific competence of UCY staff and ECRs and promote research capability in the MERIT field.
Obj. 1.2 Raise UCY’s international visibility, attractiveness and networking capabilities, to secure the continuous growth of UCY’s research potential and international competitiveness.
Obj. 1.3 Strengthen the participation and success rate in research funding proposals submitted by UCY researchers and their counterparts from other Cypriot institutions.
Objective 2: Promote interdisciplinary research and networking in the MERIT field
Obj. 2.1 Receive scientific and technical support in preparing a strategy for R&I excellence and for setting up the new MERIT-related research unit at UCY.
Obj. 2.2 Exploit datasets coming from the RISIS (Research Infrastructure for Research and Innovation Policy Studies) project2 alongside other R&I datasets available from the advanced partners to produce empirical studies in the field with focus on R&I productivity and effectiveness, R&I evaluation and optimal allocation of R&I funding.
Obj. 2.3 Enhance the interdisciplinary research activities of all partner institutions.
Obj. 2.4 Create new methodological tools and papers in the MERIT field using novel theoretical, experimental and econometric methods.
Obj. 2.5 Explore the importance of emerging concepts in the MERIT field such as diversity and equality, mobility and gender.
Objective 3: Make a broader impact on the scientific community and on society
Obj. 3.1 Impact on the broader scientific community by a research focus on state-of-the-art econometric techniques for estimating models related to R&I data and novel findings of empirical studies related to combinations of available open access datasets of the RISIS infrastructure and emerging concepts such as cultural distance, gender and mobility.
Updates on Objective 3.1: Impact on the Broader Scientific Community
Impact through Synergy with Other UCY Projects
The TWIN4MERIT research team continues to make significant contributions to the broader scientific community, with a focus on open science, research reproducibility, and research assessment practices. These efforts align with Objective 3.1 and involve impactful policy activities and synergies with other UCY initiatives.
Advancements in Open Science and Research Assessment
The team has been pivotal in shaping policy frameworks such as the OPUS project (Open and Universal Science). A key outcome has been the conceptualization and pilot implementation of open science principles in research assessment. This pilot initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence at UCY, emphasizes the integration of open science practices into the evaluation of junior researchers. This model aims to enhance transparency and reproducibility in research outputs.
Collaboration with SInnoPSis, SECURE, and OSCAR Projects
In partnership with projects like SInnoPSis, SECURE, and OSCAR, TWIN4MERIT is refining research assessment processes at UCY. These efforts focus on creating a comprehensive narrative CV model that holistically represents academic contributions. The CV framework rewards open science best practices and reproducibility and incorporates insights from leading universities in the UK and Europe. The team is actively engaging the UCY academic community through consultations and communication activities to ensure successful adoption.
Engagement with CoARA on Responsible Research Practices
The team has also played a strategic role in the CoARA working group on Responsible Research Practices, an initiative dedicated to transforming research assessment in Europe. By leveraging economic insights, TWIN4MERIT contributes to discussions on the balance between quantitative metrics and peer review. Recognizing the financial constraints of various institutions, the team highlights the role of quantitative metrics as a cost-effective resource for research assessment, especially for resource-limited organizations.
Dissemination and Conference Activities
The team’s dissemination efforts enhance the reach and impact of their research. In September 2024, the TWIN4MERIT/SInnoPSis Conference on Research Assessment brought together CoARA members and scientometrics experts. The event fostered meaningful dialogues, underscoring the need for stronger scientometric representation in guiding CoARA’s initiatives. A report on the conference was featured in the widely-read newspaper Kathimerini, broadening public awareness of these critical issues.
Through these activities, TWIN4MERIT not only fulfills Objective 3.1 but also positions UCY as a leader in fostering impactful, responsible, and inclusive research practices globally.
Obj. 3.2 Improve R&I Management and Support Structures at UCY and Cyprus
Obj. 3.3 Engage policy makers, local authorities and citizens to integrate MERIT research into R&I policy making targeted at the needs of society (local community), specifically in Cyprus as a model test case.
Obj. 3.4 Promote public awareness of the impact of research carried out in the MERIT field.