GISMO is the Ghent University research information system. This system supports two aims: (1) database of all research related information (researchers with their career details and expertise, projects, publications and other types of output, research activities, equipment etc.) and (2) support/streamlining research related workflows (application and management of research proposals, registration and management of research output and activities, reporting etc.).

Since January 2021, GISMO has also formed the basis for the Research Explorer, accessible via http://research.ugent.be. This portal allows internal and external stakeholders to find information about various aspects of research at Ghent University: which researchers and research groups are affiliated with Ghent University and what their expertise is, what research infrastructure is offered, which projects (past and ongoing) are being carried out, and which publications are available via the repository.

What does the research explorer show?

• Researchers:
  • The explorer shows a profile page for (historical and current) researchers. People are shown if they have been flagged as 'researcher' (according to the definition of the Flemish government). If you feel that you have been erroneously included or omitted you are always welcome to contact the GISMO helpdesk.
  • The profile page contains basic info about research (expertise, research disciplines, link to bibliography and ORCID) and minimal contact details (email and phone number).
    • The explorer uses your preferred name.
    • Editing your phone number: via SAP MyApps
    • Keywords (for expertise), research disciplines, Other academic online profiles (X, Instagram, LinkedIn, personal webpage) and bio can be managed using the Person module in GISMO.
  • Your current appointment/position and affiliation with Ghent University according to department and research units (insofar as you have been added to this via GISMO, either by a group leader or by the university services).
  • At the level of a person, the Activities tab is only displayed to the extent that activities have been entered via GISMO. The same applies to Awards/distinctions.
• Organisations:
  • The overview of organisations includes both the formal structure of Ghent University (faculties with their departments) and research units. The latter are divided into (1) units that are “strategic” and whose inclusion in GISMO is centralised (e.g. IOD BDC, IDC, Core Facilities), and (2) the so-called “collaborative research units”, whose registration and management is decentralised.
• Projects:
  • Only projects are shown that are present in the GISMO database, that have not been characterised as 'secret' and of which certain parts of the metadata are complete (i.e. the same projects that are also shown by the FRIS portal - note: so only projects since 2008!). Since December 2024 (some) 'externally managed' projects are also displayed (see plus icon) as well as doctoral projects (see academic cap icon).
  • The overview of publications within the framework of a specific project can only be shown if Biblio links publications to this project.
  • Research team: overview of people linked to the project. Are people missing in the Research team? Send a message to GISMO helpdesk so we can add them for you. This tab also shows external partners (as organisations > the research administration can add these) and SVO (you can these yourself via the project sheet in GISMO). 
  • Actvivities
  • Outputs and impact
    • The lists of publications and datasets generated within a specific research project can only be produced if publications and datasets have been linked to the project via Biblio.
    • This research tip might also be relevant: Why can I not find my project in the research explorer or Biblio?
    • Results: this functionality is only available for a limited number of specific project types
    • Patents: mandatory since 2025 for IOF projects (managed by UGent TechTransfer)
    • Impact narratives

• Research infrastructure:

  • All validated sheets of 'active' (i.e. the end date for commissioning has not been reached) research infrastructure will be visible for internal and external use in the research explorer.

  • The fact that a sheet is visible in the research explorer does not imply that access or use of the research infrastructure is open to everyone. The access and use policy is stated separately in the sheet.

• Outputs and impact
  • This collection button gives you access to overviews of publications, datasets, patents and impact narratives.
    • For publications and datasets, you will be redirected to the online repository of Ghent University (Biblio).
    • Patent information is collected by UGent TechTransfer and delivered to GISMO.
    • Impact narratives: this section allows you to navigate through various topics for which various online sources have been brought together – often the result of science communication activities – that illustrate the significance and (potential) impact of research within this topic.

Comments on the content of the Research Explorer can be submitted via the contact form.