Strategic Priorities, Funding and Pan-European Co-operation for Research Infrastructures in Europe

Executive Summary

Large-scale research facilities are crucial for the development of science in many fields of research. They provide new opportunities for innovations in science and for scientific co-operation. In light of the importance of Research Infrastructures (RIs) for science and the economy, the Science Europe Working Group on Research Infrastructures defined an agenda that would contribute to the actions described in the Science Europe Roadmap.[1]

…

The Science Europe Working Group on RIs makes a number of recommendations for Member Organisations and other key RI stakeholders. These emphasise the need to:
– develop a landscape analysis of those RIs that are currently available and those that are needed;
– consider defining strategic priorities to support the decision-making process; the outcome of the landscape analysis can feed into the development of strategic priorities;
– explore different funding sources for RIs and combine these to reduce dependence on one source of funding;
– introduce a budget plan which also covers the full life cycle cost of RIs, including decommissioningcosts;
– exchange information about strategic priorities with regard to multilateral co-operation; and
– investigate opportunities to join forces in funding research facilities.

…