The pandemic situation of COVID-19 demonstrated the need to integrate technologies with the capacity to perform rapid and intelligent data analysis to support laboratory management. Laboratory activities will be more successful as more attention is devoted to redesigning their processes systematically, using the best management practices. The project EASY GOV aims to develop a simplified, assertive and innovative laboratory management platform, based on common guidelines to motivate and increase the efficiency of human resources and reduce operation cost within the institutions. The project improves online, distance and mixed learning. This web-platform will help the management of all laboratorial needs and facilities such as laboratory equipment, chemicals, collections of microorganisms, laboratory wastes, laboratory material, laboratory spaces, services, laboratory safety and training taking into account the innovative practices to be adopted face to the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform will promote the implementation and development in institutions of an increased security culture. Nowadays, we do not find an integrated solution, capable of simultaneously managing all the skills necessary for the laboratory environment imposed by the pandemic COVID-19. Objectives of EASY GOV project are: to promote an innovative practice in a digital era, capable of meeting expectations/needs and experiences in a European/international context face to COVID-19 pandemic; to promote an easy, effective and efficient management tool at the level of institutions with laboratory facilities; to promote internationalization; to promote transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications; to contribute to organizational modernization. The exchange of good laboratory management practices between partners at international level is enriching for the project, as it allows the sharing of experiences and the confrontation of ideas, practices and methods to promote the exchange of good laboratory practices to be adopted face to COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that the project is developed at a transnational level allows the contribution of several laboratory experiences in different countries, contributes to the development of a platform capable of responding to needs in an international context, face to pandemic COVID-19. The platform will be organized into various modules according to the needs and facilities to promoting transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications. Participants will be involved in the different activities of the project according to their abilities and experiences and needs. During the development phase, pilot tests will be applied with about fifty participants from each partner university (department/centres directors, teachers, lab technicians and researchers), who work in laboratories. Intellectual outputs will involve the development of the specific activities: information gathering based on the specifications received by the participants and other partners of the consortium; development of the management modules in the platform; functionality and usability tests; preparation of a Demo Guide to exemplify the way the EASY GOV platform works and data will be loaded according to the institution. The consortium will implement and use a collaborative work platform to centralize the documentation, discussions and critical information of the project, its activities and results. At the end, each partner will have an independent platform. The platform will be developed in order to allow access to other institutions, ensuring the transferability of the process and promoting internationalization. The results will translate into productivity gains for institutions, reducing time and costs and increasing motivation for researchers and technicians face to the circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The expected impact on the target groups is that they become aware of and motivate to implement in their institutions platform, because it is important to follow good laboratory practices in a fast, low cost and assertive way face to COVID-19 pandemic. After the project, the potential longer term benefits are: the institutions of the consortium will have an improvement of institutional and system-level governance to be adopted face to the COVID-19 pandemic; can provide effective mechanisms to respond to specific situations; sharing of good practices, knowledge and experiences; have a recognition of the Universities “effective and safe” Universities, that are worried about the safety of their laboratories; strengthening excellence and competitiveness of the educational sector through greater transnational collaboration and networking; reduce/stop using paper and become more sustainable universities; reduce costs and gain competitiveness. This platform is an essential tool to ensure the safety and the good management of Laboratories in order to the respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EASY GOV project aims to achieve several goals by implementing the laboratory management platform. These goals include: Promoting innovative and efficient laboratory management practices to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; Providing an easy, effective, and efficient management tool for institutions with laboratory facilities; Promoting transparency, and recognition of skills and qualifications; Contributing to the modernization of organizations; Reducing operation costs and increasing productivity gains for institutions; Promoting the exchange of good laboratory practices and experiences at a European and international level, promoting internationalization; Strengthening excellence and competitiveness of the educational sector through greater transnational collaboration and networking. Overall, the project aims to improve laboratory management practices and provide a digital platform to manage laboratory needs and facilities, promotes the implementation and development in institutions of an increased security culture.
The pandemic situation of COVID-19 demonstrated the need to integrate technologies with the capacity to perform rapid and intelligent data analysis to support laboratory management. Institutions will be more successful as more attention is devoted to redesigning their processes systematically, using the best management practices. The EASY GOV project presents a simplified, innovative and efficient laboratory management platform to support laboratory activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project improves laboratory management practices, reduce operating costs, increase efficiency and promote good laboratory practices. The platform allows managing laboratory equipment, substances, biological resources, laboratory waste, laboratory spaces, services, laboratory safety and training, ensuring good laboratory practices and a safety culture. Additionally, the project contributes to organizational modernization, transparency and recognition of competences and qualifications and internationalization. With this platform, institutions have an integrated solution, capable of simultaneously managing all the skills necessary for the laboratory environment imposed by the pandemic COVID-19.