CNC is fully committed to the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter&Code), and to their progressive implementation across the institution. Following the award of the “HR Excellence in Research” (HRS4R) logo (initial phase), CNC-UC continues to promote a supportive, open and inclusive research environment, ensuring fair and transparent recruitment practices, appropriate working conditions, and continuous career development for researchers at all stages. This commitment forms part of CNC’s broader strategy to align with European best practices and to foster the continuous improvement of its research environment.
CNC endorsed the Charter and Code in 2014 and has since made gradual progress in embedding their principles across the institution. In 2025, CNC took a further step by formally applying for the HR Excellence in Research Award (Case number: 2025PT336606), which was awarded in June 2026.The HRS4R initiative, launched by the European Commission, helps research institutions improve their HR policies and practices, ensuring transparent recruitment, professional development, and a positive research culture.
Applying for the HR Excellence in Research Award involves a structured and collaborative process:
1. Internal Gap Analysis – CNC assessed its current policies and practices against the Charter & Code, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
2. Action Plan Development – Based on the Gap Analysis, CNC designed a tailored Action Plan to address identified gaps and enhance HR strategies.
3. Submission to the European Commission – The Gap Analysis and Action Plan were submitted to the EC as part of CNC’s application.
4. Evaluation by External Experts – Independent experts, appointed by the EC, are reviewing CNC’s submission.
5. Implementation and Continuous Improvement – Once the award is granted, CNC will implement the Action Plan and monitor progress through periodic reviews.
To ensure an inclusive and transparent process, CNC established two groups:
- The Working Group and main Steering Committee – composed of the Director of CNC, the Head of the Human Resources Office, CNC’s Legal Expert, the Head of the Financing and Project Management Office, and the DYNABrain ERA-Chair holder and Project Manager. This group is the core team coordinating the process, which handles the operational work and provides strategic guidance, ensuring alignment with institutional strategy. In the initial submission process, this group conducted the Gap Analysis, and coordinated preparation of the Action Plan. For the implementation phase, this group will monitor the Action Plan timelines and indicators and will coordinate implementation and reporting.
- The Consulting Group – composed of researchers at all career stages (R1 to R4) and heads of relevant offices and infrastructures at CNC. In the initial phase, this group provided essential feedback on the Gap Analysis, compliance with OTM-R (Open, Transparent, Merit-Based Recruitment), and the Action Plan. For the implementation phase, this group will continue to play an active role in supporting the HRS4R process by providing feedback on the progress of the Action Plan. Through this role, the Consulting Group contributes to the continuous improvement and institutional embedding of the HRS4R strategy.
This collaborative structure ensures that HRS4R implementation at CNC is grounded in both strategic leadership and the lived experiences of our research community.
Through the attribution of the award, CNC demonstrates its long-term commitment to the Charter & Code. This recognition confirms CNC as part of the community of European institutions awarded the “HR Excellence in Research” label, acknowledged for their commitment to researcher-friendly policies.
We use cookies to improve your visit to our website.
