Partners and Collaborators

Building a strong network requires partnerships at both the national and international level. GeoRN is fortunate to have the support and collaboration of several key organizations and institutions:

Founding Institutions (Georgia): GeoRN was initiated by a consortium of three Georgian universities – Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU), the Alexander Natishvili Institute of Morphology at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), and Caucasus International University (CIU) . These institutions form the core of our network’s leadership, providing diverse expertise from biomedical science to education and laying the groundwork for GeoRN’s activities. We continue to welcome additional universities and research institutes in Georgia as partners as the network grows, fostering a truly nationwide alliance for research quality.

TIER2 Project (Horizon Europe): GeoRN’s establishment has been catalyzed by the TIER2 project, an international initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program. In 2023, the Georgian consortium’s proposal was selected through TIER2’s open call, earning a €5,000 seed award to help launch our Reproducibility Network . TIER2 (which stands for Trust, Integrity and Efficiency in Research – enhancing these through reproducibility) supports new networks in “widening participation” countries. Thanks to TIER2, Georgia joins a cohort of reproducibility networks being built in parallel, and we benefit from mentorship and resources coordinated by the TIER2 team. We proudly acknowledge TIER2’s support and remain aligned with its mission to increase the trustworthiness of scientific work across Europe.

UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN): As a pioneer in the reproducibility space, the UKRN serves as both an inspiration and an informal mentor to GeoRN. We are inspired by UKRN’s successes in the UK – from its grassroots research advocate community to its partnerships with universities and funders . GeoRN is establishing links with UKRN to learn from their experience (for example, borrowing ideas on how to set up local champions at institutions or how to run effective training programs). While UKRN is not a direct funder of GeoRN, their model demonstrates the value of a coordinated national network, and we consider them an important collaborator for sharing knowledge.

Global Reproducibility Community: GeoRN is connected to a wider network of reproducibility initiatives worldwide. Through the TIER2 network and other channels, we are in communication with newly forming Reproducibility Networks in Ukraine and Serbia (fellow TIER2 awardees) and we aim to partner with established ones such as those in UK, Germany, Switzerland, and beyond. This global community of practice allows us to participate in cross-country events, share resources (like translation of materials or co-developed tools), and amplify each other’s efforts. By collaborating internationally, GeoRN ensures that Georgia is actively contributing to – and benefiting from – the worldwide push for more reliable, transparent research. Our Partners page will highlight these connections and acknowledge the organizations that share our vision.