by, Martin Wulff Kyvsgaard, DARMA President
The DARMA Board participated in a Nordic ARMA seminar held in Oslo at OsloMet on 2-3 September. Representatives of NARMA and its sister organisations in Denmark, Finland and Iceland met to discuss the future of research management, developments in the European research landscape and how the Nordic countries can work more closely in the years ahead. The seminar resulted in several concrete initiatives for further Nordic cooperation.
The Nordic seminar brought together representatives of NARMA, DARMA, Finn-ARMA and ICEARMA for two days of sharing experiences and discussing key issues for research management professionals across the Nordic region.
A recurring theme was how the Nordic RMA communities can be better equipped to respond to changes in European research and innovation policy, and how closer cooperation can support professional development, mobility and a stronger Nordic voice internationally.
A new European context for research management
A central part of the seminar focused on developments in the European Research Area (ERA) and the action Empowering R&I: A new ERA in research management. Participants discussed how research management is organised in the different Nordic countries and how national networks can help develop the profession.
Although the networks are organised differently, they share many of the same challenges and ambitions. The seminar therefore revealed substantial potential for greater knowledge sharing among the countries.
An important principle in the discussions was to build on existing structures rather than create new and extensive organisational layers.
Artificial intelligence is changing the role but not replacing it
Artificial intelligence and its implications for research and research management were also high on the agenda.
Discussions considered how AI can already streamline parts of research management, while the need for skilled research managers and administrators remains. The role is likely to change, with greater emphasis on quality assurance, consortium management, communication and support throughout the project lifecycle.
Making Nordic mobility easier
Another main topic was the possibility of greater mobility between Nordic research management communities.
Participants discussed staff exchanges between research support services, projects and national RMA networks. The aim is to identify arrangements that make it easy for research management professionals to undertake short-term placements, learn from one another and build networks across the Nordic countries.
Existing schemes and networks, including Erasmus+ staff mobility, COST Actions, NUAS, the Nordic Council of Ministers, EARMA and European University Alliances, were identified as possible platforms for further exploration.
The networks also want to explore closer cooperation between national professional development and training programmes, and the synergies that could be developed across them.
A stronger Nordic voice internationally
The seminar also discussed Nordic cooperation within INORMS. Participants saw potential for stronger coordination among the Nordic organisations on international issues. At the same time, there was broad support for INORMS as a global forum and for the principle of inclusive international cooperation.
From discussion to cooperation
The seminar resulted in several concrete proposals that the Nordic networks will continue to develop:
- establish annual Nordic seminars or sessions held in conjunction with national RMA conferences
- organise joint webinars and connect existing national working groups and expert groups
- explore new opportunities for Nordic mobility and professional development
- examine opportunities for closer cooperation between national professional development programmes
- establish a shared digital platform for the Nordic sister organisations
The seminar at OsloMet showed a clear willingness and concrete opportunities to develop cooperation further. The aim is to make it easier for Nordic research management professionals to share expertise, build networks and address common challenges within existing structures, rather than create new ones.
Value for DARMA members
In the Board we have discussed how we can support our members in participating in future activities. This has led to a new strategic project that will look into competence development including the DARMA intro-course, study tours, stipends and online and offline courses for RMA professionals.
For the Special Interest Groups in DARMA we will conduct an analysis in the Nordic ARMA group on coherent topics in similar thematic groups amongst the Nordic countries. This with the aim of connecting these both online and offline.
Nothings happens right away and the work in the strategic project is planned to start late 2026 and will be ongoing until early 2028.