Nicosia: The TWIN4MERIT project, supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, is set to host its International Thematic Symposium titled ‘Rethinking Research Assessment’ on Monday, 24 November 2025. This virtual event, running from 09:45 to 16:00 CET via Microsoft Teams, aims to gather leading researchers to exchange insights and explore new research directions within the MERIT domain.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the symposium will emphasize the integral role of Cyprus and the EU as pivotal research stakeholders in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region. The discussions will culminate in a review or opinion paper intended to influence the global scientific community and strengthen the project’s impact on research assessment reform and policy innovation.
The symposium will host a roster of esteemed experts from European universities and research organizations. They will discuss the evolution of research assessment beyond traditional bibliometric measures, advocating for inclusive, qualitative, and transparent models consistent with Open Science principles.
Keynote speakers include Dr. Gema Bueno de la Fuente from Universidad de Zaragoza, Dr. Nºria Bautista Puig of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientficas (CSIC), Prof. Emanuel Kulczycki from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Dr. Yensi Flores Bueso from University College Cork, Prof. Zacharias Maniadis from the University of Cyprus, and Prof. Eva M©ndez from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.
The symposium’s program will explore critical questions such as enhancing research visibility through university libraries and open-access repositories, the role of sustainability rankings and citizen engagement, the promotion of equity through narrative CVs for early-career researchers, and the future of research assessment within the Open Science framework.
A concluding Delphi Panel Discussion will unite all speakers to provide recommendations for policymakers and institutions, highlighting the key challenges and priorities in responsible and collaborative research evaluation. The event will close with remarks from the University of Cyprus coordination team, underscoring TWIN4MERIT’s mission to promote excellence in research management and evaluation across Europe.
TWIN4MERIT (Twinning for Excellence in Management and Economics of Research and Innovation) seeks to improve research management, evaluation, and policy frameworks in Cyprus and Europe, fostering a culture of responsible research, Open Science, and innovation aligned with European Research Area priorities.