A Look Back at Our Training Day Dedicated to the Role of European Project Manager
On October 8, the Mission Europe for Research (MER) brought together European Project Managers (EPMs) from the Aix-Marseille site for a day of training and experience-sharing titled “The Essentials of the European Project Manager Role: Practices, Tools, and Lessons Learned.”
This event is part of the EPM network’s activities, an initiative of the Europe 2025–2027 Multi-Year Action Plan led by the MER. Launched in November 2025, this network aims to strengthen the skills of staff supporting European projects, facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges, and help ensure the successful implementation of projects at the site.
The day’s agenda included: Horizon Europe and initial outlooks for the future FP10 Framework Program, European project management practices, budgetary mechanisms, the specific characteristics of joint units and administrative oversight bodies, as well as challenges related to audits.
Presentations by Sarah Mahir, Nadia Maio, and Elsa Aymard (MER) andAnne-Gaëlle Julian (SPV-CNRS), along with testimonials from Flavia Mariani (Inserm), Laurine Tiran and Agathe De Barrigue (CNRS), as well as the participation of Nina Guibère (amU), a European Union Liaison Officer based in Brussels, allowed for a cross-pollination of perspectives and experiences. The case studies and roundtable discussion also facilitated the sharing of tools, methods, and solutions for addressing the day-to-day realities of the EPM profession.
What’s next?
The MER aims to continue this collective momentum through several initiatives:
- Training sessions dedicated to the MSCA COFUND program, aimed at newly recruited EPMs and those who will soon be joining the teams.
- Monitoring the future FP10 framework program to track developments and share European news with the network.
- A mentoring program among EPMs to connect those willing to support their colleagues with those seeking such support.
All of these initiatives aim to strengthen ties among EPMs, support their professional development, and foster a shared culture of support for European projects within the Aix-Marseille campus.
Learn more: Coordination of the European Project Managers (EPM) Network
