• H2020
• Policy & Research

Science Europe has published an open letter sharing its views on research infrastructures and Horizon 2020 ahead of a conference on the European Research Area and innovation next week.

In the document, the governing board outlined how “it could contribute effectively and efficiently to the discussion with its European partners”. The letter comes ahead of the ‘Opening up to an ERA of Innovation’ conference taking place between 22-23 June 2015 in Brussels, which will be attended by Portal.

In relation to funding for research infrastructures, Science Europe said: “Much effort is required to achieve a balance between the needs required for ongoing sustainability of existing facilities and the development of new research infrastructures – while also considering the regional, national, or global landscape.”

Discussing the funding for research infrastructures, the organisation “urges the recognition of the diversity of national funding models and their complementarity with European and global actions”, in addition to describing interagency co-operation as an “effective and efficient means to decide and ensure the deployment of regional, national and even trans-regional research infrastructures”. The body said it was also “analysing the role of its member organisations in strategic priority setting and decision making for research infrastructures”.

The governing board also commented on Horizon 2020 and how it “recognises the major role and high impact of the European research framework programmes on transnational access to existing regional or national facilities”. However, the organisation also “urges the protection of the limited resources available for research infrastructures” and “is concerned that the Horizon 2020 budgetary reductions made for the European Fund for Strategic Investments, and in particular to the Research Infrastructures work programmes, will have a significant long term negative effect on the ERA”. As a result, Science Europe is offering “to assist in the midterm review of Horizon 2020”.

Finally, the organisation also provides comment on the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). The body “emphasises the role of research funding and performing organisations for the fulfilment of many of the ESFRI Roadmap projects and proposes a strengthened co-operation between these organisations and ESFRI where useful, in order to optimise the funding and operation, and safeguard the sustainability, of pan-European and global research infrastructures, consistent with the needs of national research infrastructure provisions”.

The body concludes by expressing “its willingness to engage with all stakeholders in the development of effective policies for research infrastructures in the ERA” and “looks forward” to additional talks.

You can read the open letter in full here.