GUIDELINES TO ELABORATE AN "EXCELLENCE FOR ERA" ROADMAP (D1.1)

REMORA’s first strategic objective is to strengthen the competitiveness and Horizon Europe participation of 3 Outermost Regions’ key regional Ocean research centres – CITEB, OKEANOS, and OOM. To that end, WP1 supported these organizations in the design of a dedicated “excellence for ERA roadmap”, i.e. a detailed action plan to master the European Research Area standards, increase scientific excellence, and intensify the participation in the Framework Programmes (FP).The definition of such roadmaps relies on a sound, step-by-step, methodology to identify and overcome the most pressing obstacles defined in scientific publications and institutional report: human resources policies to attract and retain talents, responsible research and innovation practices to maximize knowledge transfer and impacts, pro-Horizon policies to reinforce staff-members’ willingness and capacities to apply successfully, and funding synergies, notably to use strategic, ESIF-funded infrastructures, as assets to take part in FP projects.Refined with the feedback of CITEB, OKEANOS, and OOM, the methodology can be used by any organization willing to increase its performance and participation in Horizon Europe, independently of its location and level of performance. The following guidelines are thus a dissemination tool, which illustrates the capacity of the Outermost Regions to embrace critical challenges and design operational tools and solutions.This document details the methodological approach and provides the readers with extensive and detailed materials to assess one organization’s performance, identify core bottlenecks, and define relevant actions with staff members.