The UAB implements a new research information management and visibility application

18/09/2020

"The implementation of EGRETA is a necessary and fundamental step forward for our University. Not only does it imply advancing towards the maximum optimsation pof internal research management processes. It also provides, both quantitatively and qualitatively, greater public visibility of the capacities of our University and its research staff, its multidisciplinarity and internationalisation", points out Javier Lafuente, former Vice Rector for Innovation and Strategic Projects.

EGRETA presents substantial advantages with regard to the older scientific production management system, Eina, whose contents have already been migrated to the new system. The new system allows users to manage their research from the beginning to the end of their life cycle, with updates on the dates of publications and other research activities conducted by each individual. It facilitates and speeds up communication and real-time access to information shares between PDI and research management members in aspects such as the state of projects, new research calls and applications sumitted. At the same time, it serves as a support tool in the decision-making processes of different governing bodies, since it provides a permanently updated general vision of the state of the UAB's research and allows creating reports and work documents.

Usefulness for Research Members

The system offers several specific functions for research members (PDI, trainee researchers and senior technicians), who will be managing the information in an easier, faster and more rpecise manner. The system includes automatic notification of papers being published in bibliographic databases such as Scopus, Web of Science and Mendeley, and an easy selection and integration of these articles into personal spaces; the creation of reports on research activities, working with drafts online, the design of personalised digital "footprints" and a plain adaptation of curriculum vitaes to the different standardised models, according to specific requirements. In addition, EGRETA allows for the automatic update of personal pages and those found in the ORCID platform, and with which the University recently signed an agreement, and vice versa.

UAB Research Portal

The implementation of EGRETA is parellel to the launch of a UAB Research Portal, which feeds off directly from the new management system and allows all departments, centres and institutes, as well as academic and research personnel to have a personal space in which to offer visibility to their professional and research profiles.

A System to Facilitate Research Management in Europe

At the moment, the CRIS (Current Research Information System) offering support to EGRETA is the only research management system fully developed with the format known as CERIF (Common European Research Information Format). Fostered by the European Commission, it aims to facilitate the circulation of data among different research management systems existing in different EU member states.

The CRIS was conceived and initially developed by researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark and later was taken over by Elsevier, which made the system evolve and turn it into one of the leading tools now existing in the field of research information management. Its services are currently used by over 300 institutions around the world, both for the internal management of data and for the external visualisation of their research capacities.

To help PDI members become familiar with EGRETA and the new Research Portal, the University will be offering online training sessions and tutorials in the coming months. 

This information is related to the following SDG

• Quality education