Rouages: “Being where research projects are developed”
Émilie Domanico is in charge of European and international projects. As head of the engineering and project support department, she works with Professors set up their projects and assists the president with structural issues for the University of Montpellier. She carries out this strategic role within the Innovation and Partnerships Department, which she presents to us in the video series "Rouages" (Cogs), produced by the University of Montpellier.
Partnership and innovation are key priorities in the University's overall policy to strengthen its links with the socio-economic world on the one hand and its institutional partners on the other. This is the mission of Émilie Domanico, European and International Project Manager and Head of the Project Engineering and Support Department (SIAP) located on the Triolet campus. "There are seven of us working on projects in this department. Yes, all women! We are part of the Innovation and Partnerships Department (DIPA), which employs 25 people, divided between my department and the Contracts and Development Department."
From project research...
It's no secret that the jobProfessor EC) is not always carried out in exotic locations or behind a lab bench. Project development, whether for research or training, now represents a significant part of their work, for which a helping hand is always welcome. This is especially true when it comes to dealing with legal, administrative, and financial issues.
"There is the research project, but around it there are all the cross-cutting sections: the link with regional, national, and/or European policies and strategies, gender, open science, ethics, communication and dissemination of results, intellectual property... ECs do not necessarily have the resources to fill them. We also ensure that the project meets the funder's eligibility criteria and complies with national and European regulations, not to mention the institution's guidelines," explains Émilie Domanico, who herself holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Finland.
Monitoring is also part of the project manager's responsibilities. Local authorities may approach SIAP with a specific funding requirement but without having identified any calls for projects. "In this case, we first help them find the funding that best suits their needs and then assist them with the application process. We operate at the regional level, interacting with local authorities, but also with national, European, and international donors, i.e., all types of funders," explains the head of the department.
… To the research project
Once the project has been submitted and if it is accepted, SIAP continues to support the ECs throughout the contracting and implementation phase of the project: "We act as a liaison with the various UM departments and services that will be involved: HR if there is recruitment, the finance department for setting up credit and justification, the general and institutional affairs department if there are contracts, etc." And SIAP can still intervene during the life of the project if amendments or modifications are necessary.
The ECs are not the only ones who can benefit from SIAP's expertise. Vice presidents can also call on Émilie Domanico to set up major structural projects for the University. "There was the I-siteMuse, the European university Charm EU, the SFRI 'UMGS' project , the renewal of Labex , etc. We support all projects in which the University of Montpellier is involved." In 2019, the SIAP enabled the UM to obtain more than €32 million for 155 selected projects, "and many more applications were put together," emphasizes the project manager.
Teamwork and networks
To provide optimal service, project managers divide tasks according to their areas of expertise. Three of them focus on regional and national funding programs, while three others concentrate on European and international initiatives, including one responsible for implementing the ERC action plan deployed as part of the I-site Muse program. However, "it is important that they know how to do everything, " insists Émilie Domanico. " I make sure that information flows smoothly and that they can all benefit from training that enables them to work on any project."
Professional networks such as Cap ANR and the European correspondents of the Conference of University Presidents also enable SIAP staff to be in constant contact with teams working in other institutions in France and Europe. Émilie Domanico co-chairs the Europe committee with the CNRS and Paul-Valéry-Montpellier 3 University. "You need expertise and technical knowledge to understand the rules that are imposed on us. Training, sharing best practices, and collaborating with other departments within the UM or in other networks are essential to continuing to offer innovation. You can't do this job in isolation; you have to work as a team."
Teamwork is a must-have skill for this job, according to Émilie Domanico, who adds that listening, attention to detail, and responsiveness are also key. "Our schedules are tight, and deadlines are real deadlines—once they pass, the project can't go any further. We are the first line of defense, so if we make a mistake, it will have repercussions at every level." It is therefore a demanding job, but this does not dampen the motivation of the project manager, for whom the lack of routine and the stimulating exchanges with the ECs are powerful motivators. "I wanted to be connected to the field. To be where research projects are developed and implemented. And in a university like ours, there are always great projects to work on," she concludes.