The European Commission launched ‘A European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures’ on Monday 15 September, with the aim of strengthening Europe’s leadership in scientific excellence and technological innovation.
This strategy ensures that scientists, researchers, innovators and industry have easy access to Europe’s cutting-edge facilities, high-quality data and tailored services. It also aims to encourage world-class researchers and innovators to come to the continent, in line with the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ initiative (see EUROPE 13646/17). “With our new strategy we will ensure that scientists, researchers and innovators across Europe, including startups and scaleups, have easy access to state-of-the-art facilities and tailored services to develop and test their products and services”, said Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation.
Research infrastructures are large facilities that provide state-of-the-art equipment, laboratories and digital resources. They include sets of instruments, collections, archives and scientific data infrastructures generally owned and maintained by public authorities. Technology infrastructures are designed for developing, testing, validating and scaling-up technologies. They include pilot lines and pilot plants, demonstration facilities, clean rooms, test beds and living labs that support market adoption and reduce the risk for companies.
A range of actions in five areas. The strategy covers five areas of action: - strengthening the European infrastructure ecosystem; - ensuring simpler and easier access to infrastructure; - supporting staff in developing new skills and attracting talent from outside Europe; - improving and simplifying the governance framework for infrastructures; - strengthening the international dimension and resilience of infrastructures.
With this Strategy, the Commission has proposed to increase infrastructure capacity by mobilising investment and better aligning available facilities and services with user needs. It also suggested strengthening coordination between funding sources and increasing the impact of public investment.
Finally, the Strategy addresses the issue of risk management for infrastructures, in particular those linked to access to critical data and installations, in order to strengthen the EU’s sovereignty in critical technologies. The Commission will work with the Member States to promote the integration of candidate and associated countries into the European Research Area.
To read the strategy: https://aeur.eu/f/ifu (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)