Faculty of Technical Sciences Launches the European Project ERA-CAREERS
Better research careers start with better systems
How can research careers be made more attractive, more sustainable and better supported? The answer lies not only in developing the skills of individual researchers, but also in the systems that shape their opportunities for professional development.
This is precisely the aim of ERA-CAREERS, a three-year project funded under the Horizon Europe programme, which started on 1 September 2026 and will run until the end of August 2029. The project is coordinated by Dr Danijela Ćirić Lalić of the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, and brings together 18 partners from 8 countries.
The project’s kick-off meeting was opened by Prof. Boris Dumnić, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, and participants were also addressed by Raffaela Abbate, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.
ERA-CAREERS supports research institutions in implementing the European Charter for Researchers, a common European framework for improving researchers’ working conditions, professional development and careers. The project aims to translate the principles of the Charter into concrete policies and practices that will contribute to more sustainable and better-supported research careers.
The project will bring together institutions and stakeholders through five national clusters (in Serbia, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Poland) and three thematic clusters to identify key challenges and needs. The resulting insights will inform the development of practical solutions and recommendations for improving research careers.
An important part of the project will be a digital learning and certification platform designed for researchers, professionals who support research career development, and leaders of research institutions. Users will be able to develop knowledge and skills relevant to their role and link the principles of the European Charter to their everyday work.
At the same time, the project will connect people and institutions through a pan-European Community of Practice and four thematic communities. These will enable participants to exchange experiences, learn from one another and work together on solutions to concrete challenges in research career development. The experience and evidence gathered during the project will then be used to develop recommendations for decision-makers.
In addition to the Faculty of Technical Sciences, several other Serbian institutions and organisations are taking part in the project, including the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, NALED, the Minds Europe Institute and the Association for Innovation and Entrepreneurship “Future Systems Hub”. In this way, the project brings together a range of actors from the national research and innovation ecosystem. More information about the project is available on the project website, as well as on social media: [LinkedIn], [X], [Instagram] and [YouTube].