Brussels, 26/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 26 May, European Union research ministers adopted conclusions on implementing the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap. The objective of the roadmap is that of “pushing the boundaries of scientific excellence”, while developing Europe-wide infrastructure projects that are “strategically relevant for Europe”.
Three projects were selected for immediate implementation - EPOS, ELIXIR and ESS (see EUROPE 11086). In the conclusions adopted, the EU research ministers also gave their green light to continue implementing nine other projects for 2015-2016. These are ECCSEL (European Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage Laboratory Infrastructure), EISCAT-3D (the next generation incoherent scatter radar system), EMSO (the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and Water column Observatory), BBMRI (Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure), ELI (Extreme Light Infrastructure), CTA (Cherenkov Telescope Array), SKA (Square Kilometre Array), CLARIN (Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure) and DARIAH (Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts and Humanities).
The ministers asked the European Commission to allocate a single financial contribution for the three priority projects - under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation framework. For the nine other projects, the Commission is also expected to allocate financing, although the Council has not stated for which precise stage of their implementation. As regards the member states, they are asked to complement their national financing by means of the structural funds and by seeking synergies with Horizon 2020. (JK)