WP1 - Project Management

• To apply effective decision-making structure to ensure the smooth operation of the project;
  
• To complement the Excellence of the other WPs with effective project management;
• To ensure effective financial, administrative, and time management;
• To ensure an effective engagement, steering, and completing of individual WPs and maintain close cooperation with individual WP leaders.

Tasks

• Task 1.1 Strategic project management
  
• Task 1.2 Project coordination and consortium management
• Task 1.3: Administrative and financial management
• Task 1.4 Quality, dissemination and exploitation management
• Task 1.5: Intellectual Property (IP) Agreement

WP2 - Framing the ISTOS Center of Excellence

• Obtain a full understanding of the current as well as forthcoming research and innovation agenda within as well as beyond Europe;
• To consolidate and aggregate knowledge related to the research focus of the ISTOS project;
• Engage with local stakeholders to prioritize the research and innovations goals;
• Define targeted areas of research for the proposed “ISTOS” Centre of Excellence, considering relevant national,
• European and international strategies and programs;
• Map the context for the new Centre of Excellence including the national Smart Specialization Strategy and local socio-economic structures, resources, and priorities.

• Task 2.1: Background knowledge development and research assessment
• Task 2.2: Cyprus baseline and identification of future opportunities
  

WP3 - Establishment of the ISTOS Center of Excellence, Research Project Management and Administration

• Assess and fully understand the gaps of the existing Advanced Infrastructure and Materials (AIM) lab (of FRC) and Large Structures Lab (LSL) (of CUT) laboratories and their personnel, and roadmap their capacity development;
  
• Establish the ISTOS Center of Excellence;
• Prepare a Handbook for the successful operation of the ISTOS Center;
• Train the staff of ISTOS for effective Research Project Management and Administration.

Tasks

• Task 3.1: Gap Analysis
  
• Task 3.2: Business Plan
• Task 3.3: Assessment of best practices for successful operation of R&I Centers
• Task 3.4: Establishment of the ISTOS Center of Excellence
  
• Task 3.5: Preparation a Handbook for the successful operation of the ISTOS center
• Task 3.6: Research Project Management and Administration

WP4 - Training of the Early Stage Researchers (ESR)

• Co-advising and definition of PhD student’s research topics;
• Enhance the competencies and research profile of ESR through targeted activities;
• Promote collaboration, identify common areas of research and expertise, suggest topics for future research activities and define the related framework;
  
• Monitor the related research calls and suggest research proposals for submissions for funding.

Tasks

• Task 4.1: Co-advising and definition of the PhD research topics
• Task 4.2: Enhance the competencies and research profile of the ESRs through targeted activities
  
• Task 4.3: Framework for future research tasks and ESR engagement

WP5 - Training and Knowledge Transfer Activities

• To enhance the research performing competence of human resources through personalized and knowledge transfer activities;
  
• To develop and execute a series of knowledge transfer activities including workshops, virtual training and summer schools;
  
• To prepare and disseminate the training material (academic notes, presentations) related to the content of the training activities.

Tasks

• Task 5.1: Enhance the R&I capacity of the ISTOS Center of Excellence
• Task 5.2: Knowledge transfer activities – Summer Schools
• Task 5.3: Knowledge transfer activities – Webinars

WP6 - ISTOS Sustainability – Networking and Center Promotion

• Raise the profile of the ISTOS Center through research networking across Europe. The goal it to utilize these networks to strengthen the position of the Center when applying for research funding;
  
• Maximize participation in joint research proposals, specifically with the project’s foreign partners;
• Establish links with research institutions with common interests in the area of structural safety of buildings and infrastructure, the Disaster Risk Reduction (e.g. earthquakes, floods, medicanes) and the post-disaster management;
  
• Become an access point in the region by establishing links with academics, research centers, and stakeholders from neighboring countries in the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans etc.;
  
• Organize dedicated brokerage events to promote the Center’s activities.

Tasks

• Task 6.1: Local Promotion and Networking
  
• Task 6.2: Regional/International Promotion and Networking
• Task 6.3: Sustainability Framework
• Task 6.4: Round Tables (RT) and brainstorming sessions

WP7 - Dissemination and Exploitation

• To develop and execute a plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results;
• To publish papers in scientific journals;
• To participate in scientific conferences to present the results;
• To develop and circulate outreach and communication material related to the project findings and progress;
• To develop and post the project’s website to make the acquired knowledge and project’s results widely available.

Tasks

• Task 7.1: Plan for the Exploitation and Dissemination of Results
• Task 7.2: Dissemination to the scientific community
  
• Task 7.3: Outreach and Communication activities
• Task 7.5: ISTOS Project website
• Task 7.6: ISTOS Project international conference