The Research Infrastructures

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The Research Infrastructures in FP7 DG RTD
Directorate Structuring ERA
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One of the 6 major axes in FP7
Long Term Persistency
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A first reminder

• Research Infrastructures are facilities, that
  offer to the scientific community the tools
  and/or services needed for the development of
  leading-edge research, of fundamental or applied
  character
• single-sited
• distributed
• virtual

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• The EC objectives
• supported by thestatements of the informal
  Council(1-3 July 2004)
• Reinforcement of research capacities
• Prevention of fragmentation
• Increased co-operation
• ? Development of a roadmap
• ? Increased role of ESFRI

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• Research Infrastructures
• in FP7
• Two main lines of action
• Continuation and improvement of the current
  (mainly bottom-up) approach
• for optimizing the access to and the utilisation
  and performance of existing infrastructures
• Implementation of a strategic approach
• for developing new infrastructures of
  pan-European interest

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There is also a need for an increased role of EU
at international level based on the
development of concrete actions and on a
better cooperation at international level (e.g.
within the Global Science Forum)
Photo NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini-Huygens spacecraft
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• Continuation, improvement
  and reinforcement of the existing
  schemes
• ? to optimise the use of infrastructures and to
  improve their performance
• Access to research infrastructures
• Integrating activities (networking, coordinated
  access, research activities)
• Communication Network Development
• Design Studies (for new infrastructures)
• ? Call for proposals and selection of proposals
  through a peer review system.

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The strategic approach

• Support for the development of future research
  infrastructures of EU interest based on
• a strategic long term vision for research
  infrastructures roadmap(s)
• More targeted support for specific research
  infrastructure projects
• Increased use of financial engineering mechanisms
  to support such new infrastructures

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• A clear vision
• A clear vision of the needs for new research
• infrastructures in the mediumlong term should
  be defined as well as a corresponding roadmap.
• The European Strategy Forum on Research
  Infrastructures (ESFRI) will play a major role
  in this context.
• http//www.cordis.lu/era/infrastructures_forum.ht
  m

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• European roadmap for RI
• ESFRI will develop a roadmap for construction of
  new RIs for the next 10-20 years
• With a transparent methodology,
• recognized by all stakeholders
• Using agreed criteria
• (European dimension, needs of the scientific
• community, technological feasibility, )
• Under a continuous process, with annual updates
• First results expected by mid 2005

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• ESFRI working method
• 3 Steering Groups are being set up
• - Physical Sciences and Engineering
• - Biological and Medical Sciences
• - Social Sciences and Humanities
• A fourth group was already existing
• - eIRG, for eInfrastructures
• Dedicated Expert Groups may be set up
• Inputs also from e.g., national roadmaps,
  Studies, industrial representative bodies,
  EIROforum, ESF, WHO,

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• List of priority projects
• Established by the Commission
• on the basis of the roadmap
• - balanced, periodically updated
• - with justifications for each pan-European
  project
• Using clear criteria
• (potential impact Lisbon objectives, reduced
  fragmentation of efforts, European partnership,
  timeliness, readiness, budgetary planning,
  quality of management, )

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• The operational mechanism
• A two-stage process within FP7
• Preparatory phase
• - through restricted calls targeted to the
  list of priority projects
• - for construction plans, legal
  organisation, management structure,
• Implementation phase
• - following successful first phase
• - for concrete construction and operation

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• An active Commissions role
• Acting as a facilitator for the overall projects
• - leveraging and catalysing action,
• - financial engineering,
• - legal framework,
• Coordinating the Community instruments
• (Framework Programme, Structural Funds, EIB)
• and assessing consistency of actions
• Ensuring a close monitoring of the projects

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Suggested calendar to consolidate an EU policy
on RIs

• Agreement on the approach
• Consolidation of work
• Analysis of current activities Vision for the
  future
• Analysis of roadmap for new RIs and of
  operational mechanisms
• Towards a Council resolution and presentation of
  specific programmes

October 2004
November 2004
Spring 05
Summer 05
Autumn 2005