4.3.3 European Research Infrastructures
Research infrastructures are key facilities in providing the necessary data and services for European scientists to conduct cutting-edge research in a variety of scientific fields. They also provide an excellent setting for European business to develop new products and services.
The European Research Infrastructures form the pillar of EU competitiveness in science and innovation, accelerating access to new knowledge to tackle the challenges we face.
They may be single-sited, distributed, or virtual and they might include major scientific equipment or sets of instruments, collections, archives or scientific data, computing systems and communication networks or any other research and innovation infrastructure of a unique nature which is open to external users.
They foster the development of new types of materials enabling their analysis down to molecular level and testing in extreme conditions. They enable the development of new technologies for exploiting various energy sources, developing new treatments for illnesses or making our cities more liveable. They give us tools to better understand our universe, our planet and ourselves as humans.
EU shared investments in Research Infrastructures in the last decades allow the scientific community to harness the full potential of these infrastructures to deal with complex questions and serve society more effectively.
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) is a joint meeting composed of national delegates nominated by research ministers of EU countries and countries associated with Horizon 2020 and a Commission representative in charge to establish a European Roadmap for Research Infrastructures. The specific legal form that facilitates the establishment and operation of Research Infrastructures (European joint-venture that also allows the participation of countries from outside Europe) is led by the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).
What the experts think
The following expert will explain the role of research infrastructures in the EU.
Wolfgang Eberhardt
Advisor to the Synchrotron DESY, Council Member of the Synchrotron SESAME, and Former Director of the Synchrotron BESSY
How can research infrastructures contribute to the European Union?
| Read more! You may find different examples of EU Research Infrastructures in the Roadmap 2018 – Strategy Report on Research Infrastructures (Link) |
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