Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Lithuania, is seeking experienced European partners to jointly develop a proposal for HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-04-WIDENING-01: Research Management Facility.

Collaboration opportunity

The proposed action should establish a Europe-wide facility providing tailored research management support to research-performing organisations in Widening countries. Expected activities include:
institutional research management needs assessment;
development of tailor-made institutional implementation plans;
peer learning and exchange of good practices;
training aligned with the European Competence Framework for Research Managers;
European and international networking for research managers;
systematic documentation, monitoring and assessment of the support provided and its institutional impact.

The call is a Coordination and Support Action with an indicative budget of approximately EUR 7 million. One project is expected to be funded, and the submission deadline is 24 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. The action supports needs assessment, planning and capacity development, but not the implementation of the resulting institutional strategies.

About Vytautas Magnus University

Vytautas Magnus University is a comprehensive university located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Its Research and Innovation Department supports the University’s participation in national and international research networks and coordinates institutional research development activities. VMU participates as both coordinator and partner in Horizon Europe, COST, Erasmus+ and other international programmes.

As Lithuania is classified as a Widening country, VMU is eligible to coordinate a proposal under this topic. The minimum consortium must include at least three independent legal entities established in three different EU Member States or Associated Countries, of which at least two must be established in EU Member States.

Potential VMU contribution

Depending on the final consortium structure, VMU could contribute to or lead activities related to:
consortium coordination, governance and quality assurance;
institutional research management needs assessment and benchmarking;
development and validation of institutional assessment tools;
preparation of tailor-made research management capacity-building plans;
training, mentoring and peer-learning activities for research managers;
mobilisation of research-performing organisations in Lithuania, the Baltic region and Central and Eastern Europe;
piloting and validation of the facility’s services in a multidisciplinary university environment;
monitoring, data collection, impact assessment and reporting;
communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement.

VMU would also be interested in acting as a regional hub supporting the identification and engagement of target institutions in Widening countries.

Partners sought

We are particularly interested in collaborating with:
universities and research-performing organisations from Widening countries;
institutions with mature and demonstrably effective research management systems;
research management associations and professional networks;
organisations experienced in institutional assessment, organisational change and research management capacity building;
experts in the European Competence Framework for Research Managers;
training providers and peer-learning facilitators;
organisations with networks covering South-Eastern Europe, Associated Countries and Outermost Regions;
partners specialising in digital service platforms, monitoring, impact assessment, quality assurance, communication and dissemination.

Organisations already developing a consortium and seeking a Lithuanian Widening partner are also invited to contact us.

Contact person: Viktorija Vastakaite-Kairiene
Position/unit: Director at Bioeconomy Research Institute, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy
Email: viktorija.vastakaite-kairiene@...