General information

Project title: Networking and Career Development Center for Research in the South-Muntenia Region

Acronym: CNDCSM

Project manager: Eng. Sorin Ionițescu

Technical director: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Angelescu Nicoleta

Project duration: 36 months, including the implementation period (2022–2025)

The project is implemented by Valahia University of Targoviste and aims at financing, establishing, and operationalizing the Networking and Career Development Center for Research in the South-Muntenia Region (CNDCSM), in accordance with the requirements of PNRR-III-C9-2022-I10, through the creation of its own portal, the ERA TALENT PLATFORM. The main objectives of the project are: establishing the CNDCSM; including in the project 44 fields of study and 5,248 students, master's students, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers from Romania and abroad who will receive career counseling within the center; and including the applicant in the network of 8 regional career counseling centers for young researchers and beyond. These objectives are correlated with program activities and indicators and aim to attract as many researchers as possible into the national RDI system, supporting them in accessing and participating in competitive fields.

The implementation of the project, consisting of establishing the CNDCSM, is justified by the alignment of Valahia University of Targoviste with European standards regarding human resources in education and research, as well as its adherence to the ERA TALENT PLATFORM and the increased visibility of EURAXESS, which will lead to enhanced visibility and competitiveness of the applicant in RDI activities.

The context in which this project is being implemented targets economic and industrial development through RDI, carried out both by the researchers of Valahia University of Targoviste and ICSTM, as well as by emerging researchers — students, master's students, PhD candidates, both Romanian and foreign — who carry out doctoral studies and practical training internships in universities and companies in our country. The South-Muntenia Region has significant potential for economic development in both competitive industrial fields and agriculture. Thus, Valahia University of Targoviste contributes essentially to regional development by training specialists in diverse fields with economic and social impact, as well as through supporting scientific research activities, technical innovation, and technology transfer, especially in the context of the global energy and economic crises.

The project has a budget of 2,824,188.85 RON (572,370.16 EUR) — of which 2,218,305.00 RON is PNRR funding, 41,046.08 RON VAT related to PNRR funding, 554,576.25 RON co-financing of eligible costs, and 10,261.52 RON VAT related to co-financing — and will involve 12 specialists of the Applicant and 2 collaborators. The project manager on behalf of the Applicant is qualified and experienced in implementing research projects.

The project brings short- and medium-term benefits to the South-Muntenia region, both to the academic community and to the local economy, by integrating as many researchers as possible — primarily young ones — who may choose a teaching and research career or industrial research, by generating more patents and technology transfer, and by promoting scientific research among young people, starting as early as high school, directing them towards such a career.