Key Competencies of R&D Project Managers in the High-Tech Sector: A Look at Scientific and Academic Training

Abstract

The advancement of research and development (R&D) activities is recognized as essential to boost the growth and competitiveness of companies in the high-technology sector, which operates at the intersection of science and economics. The effective management of these projects depends heavily on the skills of the project manager, whose performance decisively influences the success in implementing tasks and overcoming the challenges inherent to technological innovation. This article aims to identify and analyze the main skills of R&D project managers, using a company in the high-technology sector as an empirical reference. Through a structured cross-sectional survey with 67 employees of PREVAC Sp. z o.o., we sought to map the determining factors for the performance of these professionals. The results, analyzed via exploratory factor analysis, highlight that social and intrapersonal skills stand out as the most critical, complemented by other abilities that make up the ideal profile of the R&D project manager. This discussion contributes to scientific and academic development by highlighting the importance of holistic and multidisciplinary training for these professionals, aligning with the contemporary demands of the technology market.