Rouages: “Being where research projects are developed”
Émilie Domanico is the European and International Projects Manager. As head of the engineering and project support department, she works with the “ Professors ” to help them set up their projects and supports the presidency on key initiatives for the “UM.” She carries out this strategic role within the Innovation and Partnerships Division and discusses it in the “Rouages” video series, produced by the University of Montpellier.
Partnership and innovation are key pillars of the University’s overall policy aimed at strengthening its ties with the socio-economic sector on the one hand and its institutional partners on the other. Émilie Domanico, European and International Project Manager and Head of the Project Engineering and Support Department (SIAP) located on the Triolet campus, is dedicated to this mission. “There are seven of us project managers in this department. Yes, all women! We report to the Directorate of Innovation and Partnerships (DIPA), which employs 25 staff members, divided between my department and the Contracts and Commercialization Department.”
On project research…
It’s no secret anymore: the job of aProfessor r (EC) isn’t always carried out in exotic locations or behind a lab bench. Project development—whether for research or training—now accounts for a significant portion of their work, and a helping hand is always welcome. This is especially true when it comes to dealing with legal, administrative, and financial matters.
“There’s the research project, but surrounding it are all the cross-cutting issues: the link to regional, national, and/or European policies and strategies; gender; open science; ethics; communication and dissemination of results; intellectual property… Research teams don’t necessarily have the expertise to handle all of these. We also ensure that the project meets the funding agency’s eligibility criteria and complies with national and European regulations, not to mention the university’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 indeed approach SIAP with a specific funding need but without having identified any calls for proposals. “In such cases, we first help them find funding that matches their needs and then assist them in putting the project together. We operate at the regional level by working with local governments, as well as with national, European, and international donors—in other words, all types of funding sources, ” explains the department head.
… On the research project
Once the project has been submitted and if it is selected, SIAP continues to support the ECs throughout the contract negotiation and project implementation phases: “We act as a liaison between the various departments and divisions of theUM that will be involved: the Human Resources Department if there are any hiring needs, the Financial Affairs Department for the allocation and accounting of funds, the General and Institutional Affairs Department if there are any contracts, and so on.” The SIAP can also step in during the project’s lifetime if amendments or modifications are necessary .
The ECs are not the only ones who can benefit from the SIAP’s expertise. Vice presidents can also call on Émilie Domanico to help set up major projects that shape the University. “There was the I-siteMuse, the Charm EU European University , the SFRI ‘UMGS’ project , the renewal of the Labex programs , and so on. “We support all the projects in which the University of Montpellier is involved.” In 2019, SIAP helped theUM secure more than 32 million euros for 155 approved projects, “and many more proposals were submitted,” the project manager points out.
Teamwork and Networking
To provide the best possible service, the project managers divide up their assignments based on their areas of expertise. Three of them focus on regional and national funding programs, while three others handle European and international initiatives—one of whom is in charge of implementing the ERC action plan, which is being rolled out as part of the I-site Muse initiative. However, “it’s important that they know how to do everything, ” insists Émilie Domanico. “I make sure that information flows smoothly and that they all have access to training that enables them to handle any project.”
Professional networks such as Cap ANR or the European liaisons of the Conference of University Presidents also enable SIAP staff to maintain constant contact with teams working at other institutions in France or Europe. Émilie Domanico co-chairs the Europe Committee alongside the CNRS and Paul-Valéry-Montpellier 3 University. “It takes expertise and technical know-how to understand the rules imposed on us. Training, the exchange of best practices, and collaboration with other departments within theUM or in other networks are essential to continuing to drive innovation. You can’t do this job in isolation; you have to work as a team.”
The ability to work as part of a team is a necessary quality for this job, according to Émilie Domanico, who adds: “listening skills, attention to detail, and responsiveness .” “Our schedules are tight; deadlines are absolute—once they’re passed, the project can no longer move forward. We’re the first line of defense; if we make a mistake, it will ripple through every level.” It’s a highly demanding job, but that doesn’t dampen the project manager’s motivation in the least; for her, the lack of routine and the stimulating exchanges with the research coordinators are powerful driving forces. “I wanted to be connected to the field. To be where research projects are developed, where they’re put into practice. And at a university like ours, there are always great projects to build,” she concludes.