Highlights from the Utrecht Network Workshop in Malta
Research Security and the Internationalisation of Research: Highlights from the Utrecht Network Workshop in Malta
From 6 to 9 October 2025, the University of Malta hosted the 10th Utrecht Network Research Managers’ Workshop, a cornerstone event for sharing best practices and strengthening collaboration among research managers across Europe.
This year’s theme – “Research Security and the Internationalisation of Research” – addressed a central question for today’s universities: how to remain open and globally engaged while safeguarding research integrity and institutional security.
Over four days in Valletta, 31 participants from 16 universities and organisations – including the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation of Malta – took part in discussions and interactive sessions on:
- managing research security and dual-use issues;
- institutional risk and compliance frameworks;
- the implications of lump sum funding models;
- preparing for Framework Programme 10;
- and fostering social innovation within universities.
The workshop combined in-person and hybrid sessions, ensuring broad participation and exchange across the Utrecht Network community.
Beyond the content, the event reaffirmed the importance of collaboration and peer learning among European research managers. It also strengthened the sense of community that underpins the Utrecht Network’s mission to connect institutions through shared knowledge and practice.
The Research Management Task Force is already preparing the next edition — the 11th Workshop, which will take place in Riga, Latvia (June 2026), under the theme “Simplify to Amplify: Practical Ways to Streamline Research Management.”
These workshops are open to all partner universities within the Utrecht Network, offering a unique opportunity to exchange expertise, explore emerging challenges, and build lasting professional links across institutions.