EU Missions 1 & 4 - Brokerage event and workshop

11 – 13 Jun 2025 | Ljubljana, Slovenia

Marta Kuhnová

international project manager

University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

Trnava, Slovakia

International Project Manager, leading EU projects in science, education & climate innovation across Europe.

My organisation

University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

University

Trnava, Slovakia

The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (UCM) was established on 1st August 1997 by the Act of the Slovak National Council No 201/1997. UCM celebrates a quarter of a century Named after the patrons of education – the scholars Constantine (who later adopted the religious name Cyril) and Methodius, it was established in 1997. Since then, this ambitious and dynamic university has facilitated access to higher education for hundreds of students and consequently increased the education and culture in the region. At the same time, since its inception, it has supported and facilitated the development of science and education in the region and in Slovakia through the implementation of study programmes that have not been developed before, while making space for the emergence of completely new ones. It was the first university in Slovakia where students could study mass media and marketing communication, thus giving graduates a unique edge. At present, UCM offers a special study programme for Environmental Protection and Restoration in Slovakia. The graduates, having high moral principles and civil and social responsibilities, will be able to develop Slovak culture, science and knowledge in the context of the European and world cultural heritage. The mission of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava is to provide quality three-level higher education in the research areas implemented in each university division, following the latest knowledge of science and technology. Today, UCM has five faculties and one institute - the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Mass Media Communication, the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Health Sciences and Institute of Management. The University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava is a modern education institution that forms students' self-confidence, creative and independent thought and national consciousness. The university offers enough space for the development of a knowledge base through studying, research and other creative work in the sphere of philosophy, arts and media, as well as in natural sciences, biotechnology, informatics, chemistry, but in the sphere of psychology, pedagogy, history, ethnology, political science and Slovak language, Russian language, English language, German language too. The university gives students and teachers possibilities to participate in public life and create a civil society focusing on education following the principles of democracy, humanism and tolerance. The scientific and research activities of the university are financially supported mainly through grant projects VEGA, APVV and national science and research programmes managed by creative employees of the university. Staff and research teams are involved in various European cooperation programmes and receive additional funding from EU programmes, such as the EU‘s Research and Innovation Framework Programs - Horizon. Science and research within UCM are developed in the University Science and Creative Park, which has been established to integrate the university‘s scientific and creative infrastructure. Multidisciplinary scientific and creative projects are successfully completed with the intensive participation of students of all levels of study.
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About me

Marta Kuhnová, PhD
International Research & Innovation Manager | Researcher | European Project Development & Management

Marta Kuhnová is an international research and innovation manager and researcher at the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia. With an academic background in biology and chemistry education, including a PhD in Chemistry Education, she combines expertise in research management, international cooperation, science education, and regional innovation.

She has extensive experience in developing, coordinating, and implementing international research and innovation projects funded through Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and Interreg. Her work focuses on building interdisciplinary partnerships, strengthening research and innovation ecosystems, and connecting universities, public authorities, civil society, and other stakeholders to address societal and environmental challenges.

She is actively involved in several European initiatives, including LOESS (Horizon Europe), which promotes soil literacy and education for soil health; CapaCITIES 2.0 (Horizon Europe), supporting cities and national ecosystems in accelerating the transition towards climate neutrality; Sponge City (Interreg Danube Region), focusing on nature-based solutions and urban climate adaptation; and BRIE (Interreg Slovakia–Austria), strengthening cross-border regional innovation ecosystems. Her experience also includes STExperiMents (Erasmus+), an initiative supporting innovative approaches to STEM teacher education.

Beyond project implementation, Marta contributes to international research cooperation, capacity building, and institutional development. She has supported the establishment of partnerships across Europe, Africa, and Asia, including collaboration with higher education institutions, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations.

Her professional experience includes serving as an ambassador for the Horizon Europe RM-Roadmap project, contributing to the professionalisation of research management across Europe. In 2022, she received an ERA Fellowship, collaborating with Science Shops at the University of Vechta, Wissenschaftsladen Bonn, and TU Berlin. She also completed the European Commission Joint Research Centre’s Science for Policy Training-of-Trainers programme.

Marta has contributed to European and national education and research policies. She participated in a European Commission working group on teacher education and, in 2024, was appointed a national expert for the Audit of Internationalisation Activities of Slovak Higher Education Institutions. She is also involved in national initiatives supporting the internationalisation of higher education and research.

Her international experience includes research and professional mobility at universities and research institutions across Europe and beyond, including Germany, Belgium, Albania, and Georgia.

Her current professional interests centre on climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, sustainable urban and regional development, knowledge valorisation, and the development of inclusive, place-based research and innovation ecosystems. She is particularly interested in international partnerships that translate research into practical solutions, strengthen regional capacities, and support evidence-informed policymaking.

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