Challenges in the field of Research Infrastructures, ESFRI

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1 Challenges in the field of Research Infrastructures, ESFRI November 2010 Brigitte Weiss, European Commission, DG RTD, Unit B3 Research Infrastructures ERA initiatives Excellent research institutions and universities Single labour market for researchers ERA World-class research infrastructures Joint Programming Opening of the ERA to the world Effective knowledge sharing

2 World-class research infrastructures Key element of the Lund & Donostia declarations (July 09 Jan 10) - Essential for Europe s researchers to stay at the forefront of research development - Key component of Europe s competitiveness in frontier research Key Challenges: - Overcoming fragmentation in Europe - Coping with increasing costs / complexity - Improving efficiency of (and access to) research services, incl. e-infrastructures Research Infrastructures Investments: member states EC: Coordinating a joint development of existing research infrastructures, making them better accessible for researchers Integrating Activities (FP projects) E-Infrastructures (FP projects) EC: Coordinating Member States activities to develop new research infrastructures Cooperation with ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures) Support for the implementation of the ESFRI roadmap (FP Preparatory Phase projects)

3 For existing research infrastructures Integrating Activities: to structure better, on a European scale, the way such facilities operate and promote their coherent use and development. Networking of Research Infrastructures (normally all major RI in a field) Offering transnational access to all European Researchers (unique in this programme: access free for users) Joint research to improve services (for example development of instruments, of methods, ) FP7: EC funds ~250 M /y 2,5% of EU needs. Around 500 RIs supported e-infrastructures: to foster the development of high-capacity + performance communication networks and grid infrastructures New research infrastructures ESFRI: Towards a coherent policy for Research Infrastructures European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, launched in April 02 Brings together representatives of the 27 Member States, 9 Associated States, and one representative of the EC Agrees on future common investments A Roadmap Report with 44 projects (2008) Worth ~20B investments over 10 years Roadmap update 2010 to fill gaps: 6 new projects 6

4 ESFRI - mission No single country can build and support all the needed open access RIs : many EU countries have potential RIs (several hundreds) but often unable to upgrade and manage as needed (yearly operational costs about 10 billion ) Only by pooling and integrating with new resources the EU can acquire and operate RIs at world level. Support a coherent, strategy-led approach to policymaking & to facilitate multilateral initiatives leading to a better use and development of RIs A summary of ESFRI Activities ESFRI is engaged in an incubator role in several activities in line with its mission to support policymaking on pan-european and Global RIs; this includes Working Groups and actions that may have an impact on the realisation of RIs, e,g,: Regional Perspectives, rebalance East/West; Siting and Hosting Issues; Management Aspects; Socio-economic returns; Use of new instruments, e.g. EIB/RSFF e-infrastructures and data (with the e-irg) Scientific landscapes & forward looks For example energy, environment -> dedicated working groups

5 The ESFRI Roadmap: a major instrument to drive all initiatives v In the Roadmap, ESFRI selects and indicates new/upgraded RIs, needed, with the existing ones, for full competitiveness of Europe, v By 2008: selected 44 projects (out of > 200 proposals), in a continuing process. By December 2010 will include few more RIs in the fields of Health, Food and Energy, update 2010 with 6 additional projects v 28 out of 33 Member and Associate EU Countries have responded by developing national roadmaps, of which 13 published and 21 funded, some with additional resources. Implementation of the Roadmap Beginning of 2010: Eleven (11) new RIs under implementation : agreement reached; the construction phase of these projects is ongoing or imminent; Eight (7) new RIs moving to implementation : stakeholders are clearly engaged; Ten (10) additional projects into the definition of leading country, financial & technical aspects This has been possible thanks to the synergy with the EC, EP and Council: an EU budget of 135M has supported the start-up phase of several RIs, and the Council, supported by the EP, has approved the new ERIC regulation

6 Preparatory Phase: facilitating financial engineering for new research infrastructures Member States Inclusion in national Programmes European Commission Inclusion in Inclusion in Specific RTD REGIO / DG DEV Programme(s) strategic plans Stakeholders incl. EIROs Projects EIB RSFF 34 of the 35 ESFRI projects supported For further information Research infrastructures ESFRI on CORDIS FP7 Programme ERA Brigitte WEISS brigitte.weiss@ec.europa.eu