Research Infrastructures (RI) are facilities that provide resources and services for the research communities to conduct research and foster innovation in their fields. This definition includes the associated human resources, and covers major equipment or sets of instruments; knowledge-related facilities such as collections, archives or scientific data infrastructures; computing systems, communication networks, and any other infrastructure, of a unique nature and open to external users, essential to achieve excellence in research and innovation.
Where relevant, they may be used beyond research, for example for education or public services and they may be 'single sited', 'virtual' or 'distributed'.
‘Research Infrastructures’ form part of Pillar 1 ‘Excellent Science” and aim to give Europe world-class sustainable research infrastructures which are open, and accessible to the best researchers from Europe and beyond.
What will be funded by the RI part of Horizon Europe?
Funding will be provided for three main types of activities:
- Consolidating the landscape of European research infrastructures;
- Opening, integrating and interconnecting research infrastructures; and
- Reinforcing European research infrastructure policy and international cooperation.