StR-ESFRI4 Kicks Off: Strengthening the Strategic Support Framework Behind ESFRI
The StR-ESFRI4 project has officially commenced, marking the beginning of a new phase of strategic support to the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). Funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (INFRADEV-01-2025 – Grant Agreement No. 101289108, the project will strengthen ESFRI’s strategic capacity over the next three and a half years by supporting its governance, policy development, stakeholder engagement, communication and analytical activities.
For more than a decade, the StR-ESFRI support actions have accompanied ESFRI in implementing its mission, providing expertise, support to leadership, stakeholder engagement, communication and outreach, analytical capacity and digital transformation tools. As the fourth consecutive support action, StR-ESFRI4 builds upon the achievements and experience accumulated through previous projects since 2015, ensuring continuity while responding to emerging priorities in the European Research and Innovation landscape.
ESFRI has played a central role in shaping the European Research Infrastructure ecosystem for almost twenty-five years. Through its Roadmaps, strategic landscape analyses, monitoring activities and policy recommendations, ESFRI has contributed significantly to the development of world-class Research Infrastructures, strengthening scientific excellence, innovation capacity and European competitiveness.
Over the next three and a half years, StR-ESFRI4 will support ESFRI in the implementation of its strategic objectives by enhancing its analytical capabilities, visibility and policy impact. The project will contribute to the preparation of key ESFRI strategic processes and outputs, including the ESFRI Roadmap 2026 publication, the Landscape Analysis 2028 update, the launch of the Roadmap 2030+ update process, and the work of the Strategy Working Groups, the Implementation Group and the Monitoring Committee.
Attention will be given to strengthening ESFRI’s engagement with the broader Scientific Infrastructure ecosystem, including Research Infrastructures, Technology Infrastructures, Digital Infrastructures and e-Infrastructures. The project will also support ESFRI’s contribution to ongoing European policy developments, including the implementation of the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures (RTI), the European Research Area (ERA) policy agenda and the evolution of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
In parallel, StR-ESFRI4 will contribute to fostering collaboration across stakeholder communities, promoting FAIR data practices, supporting the uptake of Artificial Intelligence within Research Infrastructures and strengthening the integration of Research Infrastructures within the EOSC Federation ecosystem. The project will also support the modernisation of ESFRI’s digital services and tools, including upgrades to the ESFRI Monitoring System (MoS).
The project is implemented by a consortium of long-standing partners with extensive experience in supporting the Forum’s activities and strategic objectives. The consortium brings together the Athena Research Center (Greece), the Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry (HIPC, Czechia), the University of Milan (Italy), and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), combining expertise in research policy, stakeholder engagement, communication, monitoring, analysis, digital transformation services, and Research Infrastructure governance.
As Europe navigates an increasingly complex research and innovation landscape, StR-ESFRI4 will serve as a valuable support mechanism, helping ESFRI further strengthen its position as a trusted strategic platform for Research Infrastructures and a key actor in shaping the future of European science and innovation.
The project now enters its implementation phase, laying the foundations for a new period of collaboration, visibility and impact in support of ESFRI and the broader Research Infrastructure community.
