GO at EARMA 2026 annual meeting: Contributing to leadership in research management

By  Nazaré GUIMARD, Head of Grants Office

What does the GO team do beyond supporting proposals and managing funded projects? At this year’s EARMA Annual Conference in Utrecht, we offered a clear answer: it connects, innovates, and actively shapes the future of research management. 

From May 5 to 7, more than 1800 research management professionals gathered in Utrecht for EARMA 2026 (link: https://event.fourwaves.com/earmaconferenceutrecht2026/pages). Under the theme “Empowering RMAs as Leaders for Impact,” the conference highlighted the growing strategic role of research management in shaping research ecosystems. Our team did not just attend — it contributed, shared, and engaged. 

Across the programme, we showcased concrete initiatives developed on campus. Nazaré Guimard presented how strategic leadership can support institutional priorities and drive innovation. Ksenia Bagrintseva introduced TeamUp4Success, a framework to make proposal development more collaborative and efficient. Marina Caillet presented an immersive approach to integrating research management into scientific training, helping make our role more visible to researchers. Our contributions also included a poster by Kelly Prifti on the impact of grant-funded projects (see report: https://www.pasteur.fr/sites/default/files/rubrique_linstitut_pasteur/grants_impact_report_2019-2024_public.pdf), and discussion tables led by Maëlle Pichard and Soizic Sergeant addressing key challenges faced by the RMA community, including workload management during peak periods and institutional adaptation in response to shifting NIH funding dynamics. 

These contributions reflect a Grants Office that not only supports research behind the scenes but also works to improve practices and anticipate challenges. 

Participating in EARMA is also about bringing something back: an expanded network, new ideas, tested approaches, and shared experiences that feed directly into how we work with researchers and support services on campus. Concretely, this translates into more efficient proposal support, clearer processes, and stronger alignment with the expectations of major funders. In a context where funding environments are becoming more complex and competitive, these exchanges are essential.