Policy Documents
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ESFRI Strategic Role and Future Directions
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) plays a central role in shaping the strategic coordination of the European research infrastructure ecosystem. Building on more than 25 years of experience, ESFRI supports evidence-based policy making and strategic planning through robust methodologies and expert collaboration among Member States, Associated Countries, and the European Commission. In the context of the evolving ecosystem of research, technology, data, and digital infrastructures, ESFRI aims to strengthen strategic guidance, support the consolidation of infrastructures, contribute to governance frameworks at European level, and maximize the impact of its methodologies and activities.
ESFRI Position Paper on the European Research Area Act (ERA Act)
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) was established to support a strategy-led approach to policy making on Research Infrastructures (RIs) in Europe, in alignment with broader policy goals, and to facilitate multilateral initiatives leading to the better use and development of research infrastructures, at EU and international level.
Since its establishment, ESFRI has witnessed the critical role of the integrated ecosystem formed by Research, Technology, and Digital Infrastructures in fostering excellent science, attracting talent, driving innovation, and enhancing Europe’s competitiveness. As highlighted in Commissioner Zaharieva’s Mission Letter, securing this role requires a long-term strategy to advance European Research and Technology Infrastructures, with the ultimate goal of creating a truly pan-European ecosystem of infrastructures and services.
As part of this strategic vision, ESFRI welcomes the forthcoming European Research Area (ERA) Act, which aims to guarantee a “fifth freedom” within the EU Single Market—ensuring the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology.
The input presented here sets out ESFRI’s perspectives on key elements of the upcoming ERA Act that can address these challenges and enable the realization of the fifth freedom for Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem.
In this context, our contribution aims to highlight and put forward solutions to several barriers that remain within the research infrastructure landscape, linked to the main blocks of policy measures that could be included in the ERA Act.
Position Paper by ESFRI on The European Innovation Act
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) highlights the central role of Research and Technology Infrastructures (RIs/TIs) in driving innovation, supporting entrepreneurship, and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness. As a continuous ecosystem, RIs/TIs are a key resource for industry and a foundation for effective collaboration between academia and business.
Through dedicated reports and policy work, ESFRI has consistently promoted stronger industry engagement in RIs, with a particular focus on access, technology transfer, and co-development with SMEs and industrial partners. At the same time, ESFRI has identified persistent barriers to cooperation, including funding constraints, limited human resources in companies, and legal and IPR challenges.
This Position Paper sets out ESFRI’s views on the European Innovation Act, aiming to ensure that the full potential of European Research Infrastructures is adequately reflected in future innovation policy and technology development.
ESFRI Paper Concept Paper on ERICs
ESFRI has published a new Concept Paper exploring how the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) legal framework can be further strengthened to better support pan-European Research Infrastructures.
Based on over a decade of experience since the framework’s adoption in 2009, the paper identifies key structural, operational, and sustainability challenges. To address these, ESFRI convened an ad-hoc Reflection Group, which developed strategic and operational recommendations addressed to Member States and Associated Countries, the European Commission, and ERICs.
The recommendations focus on better integration of ERIC elements, stronger cooperation with stakeholders, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of ERICs, contributing to ongoing discussions on the future governance and impact of European Research Infrastructures.
ESFRI Report: Funding of Research Infrastructures
European Research Infrastructures (RIs), crucial for the European Research Area, have seen strategic planning by ESFRI and national roadmaps development across EU Member States. The ESFRI 2021 roadmap highlights the diversity and expansion of RIs, with 63 identified entities.
The report compiles responses from 54 RIs across 19 Member States issued by ESFRI in 2023, addressing the call for detailed, country-specific information. It uncovers significant funding mechanism disparities between distributed and single-sited RIs, highlighting a broader challenge: a pervasive lack of detailed knowledge concerning funding sources and the calculation of access costs, despite the evident necessity for greater funding transparency and effectiveness. This report not only recounts the survey's findings but also connects these insights with putative actionable recommendations and emphasizes the necessity for collaborative effort and follow-up work to foster sustainable, efficient funding models for European RIs.
Crucially important is the role of both national roadmaps and the ESFRI roadmap for developing both a national and European RI strategy, underpinned by evaluation, coherence and corresponding funding allocations.
ESFRI Position Paper on Framework Program 10
European Research Infrastructures (RIs) encompass infrastructures for research and innovation that bolster European Union (EU) competitiveness and advance the European Research Area (ERA) by
- producing excellent research and innovation,
- driving industrial competitiveness,
- contributing to job creation, economic growth and (strategic) open autonomy,
- enhancing the welfare and wellbeing of EU citizens,
- serve as vital sources of data and expertise that inform policymaking and tackle complex societal challenges.
Moreover, they play a crucial role in supporting collaborative research, are strong magnets for talent, and bolster Europe’s scientific influence and sovereignty. RIs are at the core of the knowledge triangle of research, education and innovation, and therefore play a vital role in advancement of knowledge, the promotion of open science, and the efficiency of the research and innovation environment.
To tap into its full potential RIs must be seen and enhanced as strategic assets in policy making and across borders of sectoral domains to contribute to the European strategic agenda and the full realisation of the European Research Area. Therefore, RIs should be considered not only as a cross-cutting element of the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) but of the entire EU endeavour.
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) was established as a central platform for strategic thinking and collaboration in policies on research infrastructures, contributing to Europe's competitiveness in the global scientific landscape. In line with ESFRI´s mandate, we present our view on some of the strategic aspects that FP10 should include.
ESFRI-EOSC Task Force releases opinion paper on FAIR data
The ESFRI-EOSC Task Force has published an opinion paper highlighting the importance of FAIR principles in research and innovation. The paper, titled "FAIR Data productivity and advanced digitalization of research: an opinion paper by the ESFRI-EOSC Task Force and Steering Board expert group (E03756)", focuses on Quality-Assessed FAIR-Data (QAFAIRD) productivity, aiming to evaluate and enhance FAIR data practices in Research Infrastructures (RIs) and clusters.
Key objectives of the initiative include assessing current FAIR data productivity levels, identifying bottlenecks, and determining necessary EOSC services for improvement. The paper also explores the impact of AI tools on FAIR data management and research protocols. This publication underscores the Task Force's commitment to promoting transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration across scientific fields through FAIR data practices.
This work is based on the results of the ESFRI-EOSC Policy Workshop on “FAIR Data Productivity and Advanced Digitalization” that took place on 23-24 January 2024, in Milan, Italy.
The paper is available via Zenodo:
2nd ESFRI Stakeholders Forum Meetup Report
The second edition of the ESFRI Stakeholders Forum Meetup took place in Tenerife, focusing on three topics highly relevant to the various stakeholder communities – Funding, Access, Industry and interaction with Technology Infrastructures (TIs).
Each session started with a panel discussion, followed by group discussions in three groups, where participants addressed relevant questions, also identified in consultation with stakeholders. There were two common questions posed for all three topics:
- How the next European Commission Work Programme 2025-2027 (HE WP) and the new Framework Programme (FP10) should include them.
- Any relevant needs regarding Access to RIs that would need to be highlighted in the ESFRI Landscape Analysis report currently in preparation?
This combined expert summary report collates discussions from the various groups on the topics of funding, access and collaboration with industry.
Survey Report on Cooperation of ESFRI Research Infrastructures (Landmarks) with Industry
Cooperation between Research Infrastructures (RIs) and industry stakeholders, encompassing users, collaborators, and component providers, represents a pivotal mission for ESFRI RIs. To gain a comprehensive understanding of these collaborative dynamics and to pinpoint areas where RIs may require further support in fostering industry partnerships, the ESFRI drafting group on Industrial Co-operation was established. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the December 2022 conclusions of the Council of the European Union, a cornerstone in the development of the European Research Area (ERA).
To facilitate the drafting group's mission, an online survey was conducted in December 2022, serving a dual purpose: (1) deepening the comprehension of the scope and scale of collaborative ventures between industry and RIs, and (2) charting the course for future directions and support needed to empower Research Infrastructures in effectively engaging with industry.
This survey serves as a complementary effort to the 2022 survey of ESFRI Research Infrastructures (Landmarks). It responds to a recommendation from the earlier report to explore the perspectives of industrial partners on cooperation with research infrastructures, making it a focal point of the insights presented in this document.
Cooperation of ESFRI Research Infrastructures (Landmarks) with Industry
The cooperation between Research Infrastructures (RIs) and industry plays a crucial role in achieving scientific excellence and fostering innovation potential. However, the level of cooperation and its challenges remain less defined and monitored. To address this, ESFRI undertook a study on RI cooperation, exploring existing documents and conducting surveys with RIs. The findings highlight the need for policy actions to enhance mutual benefits and overcome barriers such as different mindsets, access rules, and intellectual property rights. Understanding RIs' potential to assist industry and society is vital for optimal resource allocation and successful cooperation. The report emphasizes the importance of strategic analysis and ESFRI's role in defining the space for cooperation between RIs and technology infrastructures (TIs) to increase impact. The recommendations provided serve as a valuable input for advancing the RI-Industry cooperation landscape.