Research Appreciation Day: Research Starts with Great Support
Research shows…”, “According to a recent study…”, “Researchers have found that…” – these are phrases we encounter almost every day. They shape the way we understand the world, inform decisions, and drive innovation across every aspect of society. Behind each of these statements are dedicated researchers whose curiosity, expertise, and perseverance make scientific progress possible.
On Research Appreciation Day, it is worth taking a moment not only to celebrate scientific discoveries but also to recognise the people behind them and the journey that leads to those breakthroughs. Every accomplished researcher was once an early-stage researcher, navigating the challenges of building skills, gaining experience, and establishing a career in research. SMART Researchers is dedicated to supporting them.
Great Researchers Need More Than Scientific Expertise
Research careers are becoming increasingly complex. Publishing papers and completing a PhD are no longer enough to succeed. Researchers also need transferable skills, professional networks, mentoring, and opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and sectors.
In many countries, however, these opportunities remain limited, leaving early-stage researchers without the structured support they need to develop sustainable careers.
Early-stage researchers also face uncertainty and self-doubt as they develop their scientific writing, navigate peer review, and build confidence in their work. These experiences are a normal part of becoming an independent researcher, but they also highlight why structured guidance and support matter.
As Teaching Assistant at the University of Novi Sad’s Faculty of Technical Sciences, Mladenka Novaković Bezanović explains:
“The biggest challenge in my research journey has been the path from writing to publication. There were moments of doubt and frustration. However, through persistence and continuous improvement in interpreting research results, every obstacle was eventually overcome. I learned that growth often happens in the most difficult phases.”
How SMART Researchers Is Changing the Picture
Establishing Career Support Centers
SMART Researchers will create seven Career Support Centres that provide dedicated, continuous support for early-stage researchers throughout their career journeys. These centres will promote HR practices aligned with the European Framework for Research Careers and the European Charter for Researchers, contributing to improved working conditions and more sustainable research environments.
They will act as long-term guidance hubs, offering personalised advice, mentoring, and tailored capacity-building to help researchers develop the competencies needed in an evolving research landscape shaped by the green and digital transitions.
Beyond individual support, the CSCs will also help institutions implement Strategic Action Plans for career development. This ensures that researcher growth is structured, consistent, and aligned with institutional priorities.
Building Skills and Professional Network
One of the main challenges ESRs face is that their development is often focused primarily on academia, with limited access to networking opportunities, skills development, and collaboration across sectors. This narrow focus can make it difficult for researchers to fully explore their potential and prepare for diverse career paths both within and beyond academia.
That’s why, SMART Researchers will establish the Competency Lab, a sustainable and scalable platform for continuous career development, training, and certification, aligned with the European Framework for Research Careers. The Competency Lab will enable researchers to build the competencies needed for the green and digital transitions, explore cross-sector career opportunities, and connect with peers and experts across academia, industry, and society.
By providing structured tools, guidance, and resources, it will support researchers in strengthening their skills, increasing their impact, and advancing their careers.
Professional networks also play an important role in researchers’ career development, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and new research partnerships. Research Assistant Ivana Biondić Jazbec highlights the value of these connections:
“I build professional networks mostly through colleagues and project partners, less at conferences, and basically none online. My professional network is now larger than ever and has significantly helped my research, as meeting people from the same or similar research fields broadens my knowledge.”
Research Appreciation Day: Empowering ESRs, Advancing Science
Investing in researchers means investing in better research, stronger institutions, and a more resilient innovation system. When early-stage researchers are given the right support, skills, and opportunities to grow, their potential translates into higher-quality science and greater societal impact. By equipping early-stage researchers with the skills, recognition, and career support they need to succeed, SMART Researchers is helping build a stronger foundation for Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem. Through concrete actions aligned with the European Framework for Research Careers, the project strengthens both individual researchers and the institutions that support them, creating the conditions for innovation, scientific excellence, and lasting societal impact.