Copenhagen Forum shapes ESFRI’s strategic contributions to Europe’s Research and Technology Infrastructure ecosystem
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) met in Copenhagen on 20–21 October 2025, under the Danish Presidency, to discuss the next steps for Europe’s Research Infrastructure Ecosystem.
Key topics were progress on the ESFRI Roadmap 2026, follow-up and next steps stemming from the Future of ESFRI Workshop, monitoring of Landmarks and ESFRI’s evolving role in the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures and its links with the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
About the ESFRI Roadmap 2026
“As Europe faces new scientific and societal challenges, the ESFRI Roadmap 2026 update is already underway. Over the years, ESFRI has highlighted Europe’s best research infrastructures through rigorous evaluation. This Roadmap will continue that tradition, fostering cooperation across countries and disciplines and advancing Europe’s scientific excellence and competitiveness, ” said José Luis Martínez, ESFRI Chair.
The ESFRI Roadmap 2026, to be launched in Rome on 2 December 2026, followed by the International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI 2026, 2–4 December), will be the seventh edition. The process also includes monitoring projects included in the Roadmaps of 2016, 2018, and 2021, ensuring continuity and alignment with Europe’s research priorities.
Future of ESFRI in a New ERA
Building on the workshop “Future of ESFRI in a New ERA” (Brno, March 31 to April 1, 2025) that marked the initiation of a new process to shape ESFRI’s future, the Forum approved a summary report of the discussions with proposals for actions. Based on the report a list a prioritized actions will be developed.
Monitoring of Landmarks
The ESFRI Forum had in Copenhagen an in-depth session on enhancing monitoring practices and next steps on following monitoring exercises. The ESFRI Monitoring of Landmarks is meant to support maintaining the quality and the further development of the Landmarks, and for ESFRI to achieve further insights into the functioning of the European RI ecosystem.
RI Funding Data Collection
ERIC Forum Chair Antje Keppler and EIROforum representative Plamena Markova presented perspectives on funding data from their respective organizations, focusing on challenges through a few case studies from ERIC Forum and EIROforum, sparking discussions and setting the scene for a larger discussion on how to collect funding data and analyse budget and expenses across very different infrastructures.
European Commission Priorities
During the Copenhagen Forum, the EC representative outlined the Commission’s proposal for the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) — proposed to be launched in 2028 with a budget of €175 billion, nearly double the current programme. The EC also presented the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructure and the Forum discussed the role that ESFRI can play in the implementation of the foreseen actions.
Looking Ahead
In early 2026, ESFRI will organize a workshop focusing on the integration of research infrastructures with EOSC. This event will explore practical steps to enhance interoperability, data services, and the visibility of European infrastructures on the global stage.
Learn more: www.esfri.eu
