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Setting the Standard: PM² EU by ECVC at the SMART Researchers Project Kick-Off Meeting

SMART research group

PM² EU by ECVC participated in the launch of SMART Researchers project on 22–23 September 2025 in Serbia, at the University of Novi Sad—Faculty of Technical Sciences, bringing a certification-first mindset to a project designed to elevate Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) across Widening countries.

Elevating skills into recognised credentials

SMART Researchers is a 36-month initiative funded under Horizon Europe that couples Career Support Centers with a ResearchComp-based micro-credentialing system, enabling ESRs to develop, evidence, and transport skills across academia, industry, and the public sector—supporting Europe’s green and digital transitions.

Our role: Certification Backbone and Compliance Anchor

  • Framework lead (Task 3.2, M10–M12): Design the micro-credentialing and certification framework mapped to 38 ResearchComp sub-competencies, aligned with EQF, EQAVET, and ISO 17024.
  • Quality assurance at scale: Ensure adherence to European standards so credentials are portable, trusted, and durable within Career Support Centers.
  • Pilot validation co-lead (Task 3.4): Co-run the initial pilot with 100 ESRs, gathering evidence for improvement and preparing the model for scale-up.
  • End-to-end certification infrastructure: Online registration and payments, live monitoring, auto-scoring, and instant digital certification provide consistent, high-integrity assessment across countries.

Kick-off takeaways

  • From plan to playbook: Partners aligned on roles, governance, and the first six-month milestones, with deep dives into WP2 (career support systems) and WP6 (dissemination, communication, exploitation).
  • Stakeholder journey mapping: Clear pathways defined for ESRs, institutions, mentors, and employers to interact with pilots and credential routes.
  • Delivery discipline: Agreement on management, monitoring, eligibility rules, documentation, and budget controls to keep execution predictable.

Next Steps

  • Finalize the credential framework (M10–M12), including assessment blueprints and credential metadata.
  • Ready the pilot: examiner onboarding, item calibration, security protocols, and platform tests.
  • Launch and learn: run the ESR pilot, analyze performance data, and refine for wider deployment.

Engage with PM² EU by ECVC

  • Interested in micro-credential design, exam delivery, or QA for R&I projects? Contact our team [email protected].
  • Follow SMART Researchers on social media: LinkedIn • Instagram • X

Follow the channels above for updates, opportunities, and pilot results from SMART Researchers.

PM² EU by ECVC—turning capabilities into verified credentials.

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Our certifications are fully aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), designed to uphold high standards and deliver trusted credentials across Europe.

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