Major Research Collaborations SIG

The newly established Major Research Collaborations (MRC) Special Interest Group (SIG) aims to provide a dedicated forum for research management professionals involved in the strategic and operational delivery of complex, large-scale research initiatives.

Australia’s major research initiatives are increasingly focused on national priorities such as achieving net zeros, improving health and wellbeing, advancing digital and quantum technologies, strengthening defence and cybersecurity, elevating Indigenous knowledge systems, building climate resilience, among few, — all underpinned by a growing collaboration with industry and a drive for research translation and impact.

The MRC SIG aims to support research institutions and provide a platform for:

• Inclusion: Research management professionals from a wide range of organisations are encouraged to lead the conversation to ensure research management professionals are well positioned to lead and navigate innovation in research support practices.
• Knowledge-sharing: Promote exchange of insights, lessons learned, and best practices, including but not limited to ARC, NHMRC, and MRFF schemes, with a focus on unique challenges, strategic opportunities, and scalable approaches to research excellence.
• Major research funding trends: Discuss latest major research funding trends and drive innovation in managing major research initiatives.
• Standardisation of practice: Set up a best practice workflow for management of major research initiatives.
• Discussion forums, workshops, training and networking: A platform for regular forums and networking, with workshops and training developed collaboratively by the group.

The inaugural SIG Co-convenors:

• Ms Vesna Stefanovski (Chief Operating Officer, ARC Research Hub for Molecular Biosensors at Point-of-Use (MOBIUS), La Trobe University)
• Dr Yordanka Krastev (Research Operations Manager, Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation)
• NZ Co-convener (TBA)

To contact the SIG Co-convenors, email: ARMSMembership@researchmanagement.org.au