Building an effective, sustainable and inclusive European Research Infrastructure (RI) ecosystem is one of the key elements for the development and improvement of knowledge and technology and for the overall competitiveness of our continent. In particular, Research Infrastructures are important hubs for generating new knowledge and training highly skilled human capital.
Long-term sustainability of Research Infrastructures has been repeatedly highlighted as one of the main challenges for the overall research and innovation system in Europe. Overcoming this challenge will depend on a common understanding and agreement among policy-makers at all levels and research managers, as well as the industrial stakeholders.
- Background and the main challenges – This block will include opening addresses and a keynote speech on the main challenges for European RIs.
- Key elements for the Action Plan – This block will consist of three sessions focused on the key issues to be addressed in the Action Plan. The first session will focus on the synchronisation of RI policies at different levels, including, among others, national roadmaps, coordination of investments, dedicated RI budgets, co-funding mechanisms, etc. The second session will explore synergies, including complementarity of the different EU funding sources and mechanisms, opportunities for collaboration of RIs in different domains and of different size, transnational access to RIs, etc. The third session would focus on RIs as hubs of innovation, including opportunities for collaboration with industry, innovative services, digital skills, user involvement strategies, educational role of RIs, etc. This session will be followed by dedicated activities at the exhibition, focusing on achieving an impact.
- The European Call for Action – This session will include a political panel which will conclude the conference and present the European Call for Action on Long-term sustainability of RIs.
Further information is available on the event website. There you also have access to the conference programme.