EU’s new research infrastructure strategy’s success threatened by fragmented funding
Europe has the infrastructure to make itself a research powerhouse but must get industry and member states on board
The European Commission has introduced a new strategy for research and technology infrastructures (RTIs), which involve shared laboratories, technology platforms and research facilities. However, its success appears to depend on mobilising the necessary funding from both the commission and member states.
There are over 100 such infrastructures in Europe. Research infrastructures (RIs) provide state-of-the-art equipment, laboratories and digital resources for science, research and innovation. They can be single sites like the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble, spread over several sites like the European Molecular Laboratory (EMBL), or virtual, as in the European neuroscience research network EBrains. In contrast, technology infrastructures (TIs) are facilities for developing, testing and scaling up technologies. They include pilot lines, pilot plants and demonstration facilities designed to bring technologies closer to market. For example, the Bioruukki testing centre in Finland is focused on materials and chemical technologies.