The first cycle of the CLiCAM workshop series under the Innovation Leadership Programme was successfully accomplished at CEITEC BUT, Brno, from 23 to 25 September 2025. Over the course of three days, the programme brought together ERA Talents, researchers, innovators, and project managers to strengthen their competences in research project development, grant writing, project management, and sustainable innovation practices.
The training commenced with Module 1: Research Projects Development and Management I, led by Zuzana Reptová, which provided participants with a solid foundation in research project planning and execution. Sessions further addressed the fundamentals of grant proposal development, strategies for establishing competitive consortia, and best practices in academic and technical writing.
On the second day, Zuzana Reptová and Peter Hošták guided participants through advanced project management methodologies, including practical project planning exercises and preparation for final assignments. In the afternoon, Gabriela Čičmancová introduced Module 2: Building Capacities for Sustainable Innovation, focusing on talent management, onboarding, mentoring, and fostering diverse, high-performing research teams.
The programme concluded with an in-depth exploration of the Research and Innovation policy landscape by Zuzana Reptová. The final sessions examined the role of socially responsible research and innovation, the relevance of key policy frameworks such as the EU R&I Strategic Plan, RIS3 strategies, the European Green Deal, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the preparation for the forthcoming FP10 framework programme. Additional emphasis was placed on navigating transnational funding schemes, including eligibility, selection criteria, and common challenges in the application process.
This training programme provided participants with practical tools, strategic insights, and a collaborative environment to support the development of competitive research projects and sustainable innovation capacity across Europe.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the professional instructors, the devoted organizers from CEITEC BUT, and all the participants who contributed their energy, curiosity, and expertise.
We look forward to seeing the skills, ideas, and collaborations sparked here grow into impactful projects and sustainable innovations!
