HÉTFA colleagues Virág Zsár, Senior Advisor, and Beáta Lázár, Senior Communication Expert, participated in the MAPIT Study Visit in Istanbul and the subsequent Final Consortium Meeting in İzmir between 21 and 23 July 2026.
The Study Visit at Istanbul University provided an opportunity for knowledge transfer among Turkish research managers and created a shared platform for exchanging good practices. Virág Zsár presented the development of the Research Management profession, the results of the RM Roadmap survey and the European Research Area policy context. Beáta Lázár introduced HÉTFA’s research management projects, including SECURE2, RM Framework and MAPIT Horizone Europe projects. The partners also met research managers working at Istanbul University and representatives of TARMA, the Turkish Research Management community. During the discussion on the relevance, benefits and challenges of professional associations, Virág Zsár – recently elected President of HUNARMA, the Hungarian Association of Research Managers and Administrators – shared experience from establishing the Hungarian association, thereby supporting the initiative of the Turkish colleagues.
The programme continued in İzmir, where Virág Zsár and Beáta Lázár delivered the final Future Studies Programme training. The first part of the HÉTFA-led programme focused on the challenges of organisational development and lessons learned from the project, followed by a workshop in which participants prepared institutional action plans for their Research Support Offices. Building on HÉTFA’s gap analysis, the training addressed research management strategy, processes, knowledge management, services and professional networks. At the Final Consortium Meeting, HÉTFA presented the results of Work Package 4 (the Future Studies Programme), including the training programme, study visits and short-term secondments. Partners shared their mobility experiences, evaluated the work of the two-year project, and prepared sustainability and future cooperation plans.
The Horizon Europe-funded MAPIT project aims to bridge the gap between innovative SMEs, research entities and European R&I networks, fostering sustainable international partnerships. By establishing digital innovation centres and upskilling R&I managers, MAPIT strengthens university-industry collaboration, promotes internationalisation and supports research entities in engaging successfully with Horizon Europe and the European Research Area.
HÉTFA is the leader of Work Package 4, responsible for the Future Studies Programme.
Learn more about the project here: https://mapitproject.eu/