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Abstract

In order to achieve a successful research and innovation project, it is increasingly critical to clearly define efficient coordination and management processes. Keeping in mind the limited research funding at the National and European levels and the growing competition in academic areas and more, in general, in the research environment, the proper management of research projects has become essential. Designing and ensuring a realistic project plan in terms of scope, objectives, time and costs is a critical condition to obtain financing and a crucial element to guarantee a successful implementation of a project. This is even more decisive when the project provides for the participation of affiliated entities; this is a common practice in the case of the ERIC- European Research Infrastructure Consortium. In the case of EMSO ERIC- The European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water column Observatory -the project management should normally consider an effective way of coordinating human resource efforts and activities between its central management office and the different affiliated Research Organisations, members of the ERIC consortium, who could join the same project. In general, and even more so within a distributed ERIC, participation in a project means delivering precise impacts and results relevant to the mission of the Consortium and its members, in relation to their strategic roadmap and vision. For this reason, within EMSO ERIC, an internal service has been created that aims to encourage and promote a permanent and structured collaboration between the EMSO ERIC Central Management office and the research organizations, in the context of activities and strategies planned and implemented since the beginning of the project. While ensuring a constant and effective cooperative link in the framework of externally funded projects, the EMSO ERIC coordination and management service offers the opportunity to leverage the impact of project activities and results on the growth, strength, outreach and cohesion of EMSO ERIC. This process covers the whole project life cycle, from its embryonic stage as a proposal, through its implementation and until its completion and conclusion, supporting the development of all the project management steps and monitoring the technical implementation of the activities to fulfil deadlines and targets, trying to be successful in project management as well as in research.