Research Infrastructures Infodays in Greece

maria.douka@cec.eu.intDecember 20 and 21, 2004

Definition of Research Infrastructures Facilities and resources that provide essential services to the research community in both academic and/or industrial domains

single-sited - single resource at a single locationdistributed - a network of distributed resources, including Research Infrastructures based on Grid-type architecturesvirtual - the service being provided electronically

Examples of Research InfrastructuresSingular large-scale research installationsCollections, bio-banks, special habitatsLibraries, databasesIntegrated arrays of research installationsCommunications networks, computing facilitiesInfrastructural centres of competence

Research Infrastructures in FP6

Focussing and Integrating European Research (76%)

Thematic priorities (64%)

Specific activities covering a wider field of research (7%)

Non-nuclear activities of the JRC (4%)

Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health

Information society technologies

Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices

Aeronautics and space

Food quality and safety

Sustainable development,

global change and ecosystems

Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society

Supporting policies and anticipating scientific and technological needs

Horizontal research activities involving SMEs

Specific measures in support of international cooperation

Structuring the ERA (15%)

Strengthening the ERA foundations (2%)

Research and innovation

Human resources & mobility

Research infra-structures

Science and society

Coordination of research activities

Coherent development of research and innovation policies

Objectives of the Research Infrastructures programmePromote the development of a fabric of research infrastructures of the highest quality and performance in Europe

Promote their optimum use on a European scale, based on the needs of the research community

Former actions Under FP2 and FP3: projects supporting Transnational Access to major Research Infrastructures

Under FP4 and FP5: also networking and research projects

FP6 actions for Research Infrastructures For existing infrastructures:- TA - Transnational Access (SSA)- IA - Integrating ActivitiesIntegrated Infrastructure Initiatives : I3Co-ordination Actions : CACND - Communication Network Development (I3, CA, SSA)For new or major upgrade of infrastructures:- DS - Design Studies (SSA)- CNI - Construction of New Infrastructures (SSA)AM - Accompanying Measures (SSA)(Area / Instrument)

Conditions for a EC support Scientific and Technological excellence (in any field of Science and Technology)Major Research Infrastructures (world-class service)Need expressed by the scientific communityEuropean added value

The Research Infrastructures Calls225 M501001381452555Call 1: Transnational Access and Integrating Activities (17 Dec. 2002)Call 3: Gant (6 June 2003)Call 4: Design Studies, Construction ofNew Infrastructures and AM (11 Nov. 2003)Call 5: Transnational Access, Integrating Activities and AM (4 Nov. 2004)Call 6: Consolidating Initiatives (15 Dec. 2004) Call 7: Grids (11 May 2005)

The current callFP6-2004-Infrastructures-5

Publication date: 4 November 2004 All fields of S&T are coveredCall deadline: 3 March 2005 Electronic submission only / Pre-notificationRemote evaluation: March - April 2005Panel meetings: Brussels, 9-13 May 2005Results: available in JulyNegotiations: Sept. 2005 Dec. 2005First contracts: January 2006FP6-2004-Infrastructures-5 Call outline (1)

FP6-2004-Infrastructures-5 Call outline (2)Indicative budget: 145 million Integrating Activities (CA, I3): 126 million Transnational Access (SSA): 17 million Accompanying Measures (SSA): 2 million

Expected proposals: 150Integrating Activities (CA, I3): 50 Transnational Access (SSA): 70Accompanying Measures (SSA): 30

3 ranking lists

Evaluation procedureExpert evaluators: 90 (+ Chairman + Independent Observer)

5 thematic sub-panels for Integrating Activities and Transnational Access

One multidisciplinary subpanel for Accompanying Measures

Evaluation criteria

General criteria:Relevance to the objectives of the programmeScientific and Technological excellenceQuality of the managementEuropean added value

More details in the revised Work Programme

Evaluation criteria

Results from previous calls taken into account

How? As an example: for I3s, criterion 3 of the evaluation (Fundamental Objectives) will include the extent to which infrastructures involved in similar activities have been funded in the contracts from the earlier call for Transnational Access and Integrating Activities

Transnational Access - SSATo support opportunities of access to individual major infrastructures (rare in Europe), for transnational user groups

Financing covers up to 100% of the Access, Travel & Subsistence, and other related costs

Contracts Typically 36 to 48 months EC contribution 100 to 750 k per year, not exceeding 20% of the operating costs of the infrastructure

Integrating Activities - I3To integrate the European infrastructures of a specific scientific community, promoting their coherent use and development

3 mandatory groups of activities:Networking Activity to catalyse co-ordination and co-operation (common databases, virtual facilities, setting common protocols, training users)

Transnational Access to one or more infrastructures

Joint Research Activities to improve (in quality and quantity) the service provided

Integrating Activities - I3Financing covers:Up to 100% of the Networking activitiesUp to 100% of the Access, T&S and related costs Up to 50% of the Joint Research activities costs

ContractsTypically 48 to 60 monthsEC contribution of several millions (average: 12)25-200 k/year for each N.A.100-750 k/year for each T.A.0.4-5 M for each J.R.A.

To integrate the European infrastructures from a given class, by promoting their coherent use and development

Networking activities only

Financing up to 100%

ContractsTypically 48 to 60 monthsEC contribution of a few millions (average: 1.8)25-200 k/year for each Networking ActivityIntegrating Activities - CA

To sustain existing or future mechanisms for a coordinated approach to Research Infrastructures in Europe

Financing up to 100%

ContractsTypically 12 to 36 monthsEC contribution 50-100 k, for each measureAccompanying Measure - SSA

Database studies

Foresight studies

Exploratory workshops

Round-table workshopsAccompanying Measure - SSA

Main differences between the new call 5 and previous callsI3: All three activities (Networking, Access, Joint Research) are mandatory

AM: Round-table workshops not supported

General:Final threshold increasedSome specific evaluation criteria modified (see revised Work Programme)Results from previous calls taken into account

AM, TA, CA and I3 projects selected in previous calls

Domain: Engineering, Energy & Nanotechnologies

Domain: Physics and Analytical facilities

Domain: Life Sciences and Biotechnologies

Domain: Environment and Earth Sciences

Domain: Computational Sciences, Mathematics,Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities

Success rates for Integrating Activities and Transnational Access (call 1)7/2913/363/268/423/2134/154

Sheet:

Engineering, Energy, Nanotechnologies

Physics and Analytical Facilities

Life Sci. and Biotechnologies.

Environment and Earth Sci.

Computational Sci., Mathematics, Socio-Economic Sci. and Humanities

TOTAL

call 1

6: Consolidating initiatives (I3, CA, SSA)Closing 17 March 2005; budget: 25 million for user communities and for supporting international issues & science-related eInfrastructure policies

7: Grid (I3, CA, SSA) initiatives Closing 7 September 2005; budget: 55 million should link and build upon existing ones in the same area FP6-2005-Infrastructures-6 and FP6-2005-Infrastructures-7 Communication network development(managed by DG INFSO)

Further informationInformation on Research Infrastructureshttp://www.cordis.lu/infrastructures/Call FP6-2004-Infrastructures-5http://fp6.cordis.lu/infrastructures/calls.cfmFP6 funded projects (Infrastructures)http://www.cordis.lu/infrastructures/projects.htmActivities managed by DG INFSO http://www.cordis.lu/ist/rn/home.html

The Research Infrastructuresin FP7

Coordination between MSJoint research initiativesStimulation of collaborationCompetition for excellenceHuman potential +Scientific infrastructuresOne of the 6 major axes in FP7

Research Infrastructures in FP7: Two main lines of action

Continuation and improvement of the current (mainly bottom-up) approach for optimizing the access to and the use and performance of existing infrastructures

Implementation of a strategic approach for developing new infrastructures of pan-European interest

Continuation, improvement and reinforcement of the existing schemesTo optimise the use of infrastructures and to improve their performanceAccess to research infrastructuresIntegrating activities (networking, coordinated access, research activities)Communication Network Development Design Studies (for new infrastructures)

Call for proposals and selection of proposals through a peer review system

The strategic approach Support for the development of future Research Infrastructures of EU interest based on:A strategic long term vision for Research Infrastructures roadmap(s)More targeted support for specific research infrastructure projectsIncreased use of financial engineering mechanisms to support such new infrastructures

A clear vision of the needs for new research infrastructures in the mediumlong term should be defined as well as a corresponding roadmap.

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)will play a major role in this context.A clear vision

ESFRI will develop a roadmap for construction of new RIs for the next 10-20 yearsWith a transparent methodology, recognized by all stakeholdersUsing agreed criteria (European dimension, needs of the scientific community, technological feasibility, ) Continuous process, with annual updates

First results expected by mid 2005 European roadmap forResearch Infrastructures

3 Steering Groups are being set up :- Physical Sciences and Engineering- Biological and Medical Sciences- Social Sciences and HumanitiesA fourth group was already existing :- eIRG, for e-InfrastructuresDedicated Expert Groups may be set up

Inputs also from national roadmaps, studies, industrial representative bodies, EIROforum, ESF, WHO, ESFRI working method

Established by the Commission on the basis of the roadmap- balanced, periodically updated- with justifications for each pan-European project

Using clear criteria (potential impact -Lisbon objectives, reduced fragmentation of efforts -, European partnership, timeliness, readiness, budgetary planning, quality of management, )

List of priority projects

A two-stage process within FP7 :

Preparatory phase- through restricted calls targeted to the list of priority projects- for construction plans, legal organisation, management structure, Implementation phase - following successful first phase- for concrete construction and operationThe operational mechanism

Acting as a facilitator for the overall projects- leveraging and catalysing action- financial engineering- legal framework

Coordinating the Community instruments(Framework Programme, Structural Funds, EIB)and assessing consistency of actions

Ensuring a close monitoring of the projectsAn active Commissions role

Suggested calendar to consolidate an EU policy on RIsAgreement on the approach

Consolidation of work

Analysis of current activities, vision for the future Analysis of roadmap for new RIs and of operational mechanisms

Towards a Council resolution and presentation of specific programmesNovember 2004Spring 2005December 2004Autumn 2005Summer 2005

Further informationESFRIhttp://www.cordis.lu/era/infrastructures_forum.htmFuture of Research preparing FP7 http://www.cordis.lu/era/fp7.htm http://www.cordis.lu/infrastructures/

Creating synergies between the Framework Programme and the Structural Funds

The BONUS scheme

Reference to the Bonus Scheme in FP6

In the case of regions lagging in development, when a project receives the maximum intensity of co-financing authorised under this Programme or an overall grant, an additional contribution from the Structural Funds, pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/99 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, could be granted. Decision No 1513/2002/EC, Annex III.2 Detailed Rules for Financial Participation by the Community

Activities financed by the Structural Funds: the example of InfrastructuresConstruction, development and modernisation of infrastructure for scientific research at the university level, i.e.: libraries, laboratories and other facilities, Development or research parks and applied research centres for implementation of advanced technologyAlsoEstablishing and developing business incubator or technology transfer centres, Equipment aimed at applied research linked to industry, Support for innovative enterprises located in science and technology parks.

Next stepsNew regulation on the Structural Funds: to be adopted and published in the OJ in 2005The preparation of the Guidelines document: starting in 2005, will be published as a Communication from the CommissionUrgency to raise awareness of organisations in charge of structural funds towards research needs and related projects in your region,Communication to be eased between different parts of national administration responsible for the management of the two different fundsThe available financial resources could be increased via the harmonisation of the planning for the use of the two funds

Conditions of Eligibility for Applying to the Bonus SchemeYou have to be:an FP6 contractorestablished in Objective 1 Region

You have to respect: Structural Funds and State Aids RegulationsRules governing the 6th Framework Programme

You have to take:Direct Contact with the Structural Funds Managing Authority in your country or region:http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/manage/authority/authority_en.cfm

Further informationRegions and Structural Fundshttp://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/communic/comm_en.htmhttp://www.cordis.lu/era/knowreg.htmhttp://www.cordis.lu/era/regions.htmhttp://www.innovating-regions.org/

1. Database studiesfeasibility or creation, maintenance and distribution of databaseseither specific to a scientific domain or transdisciplinaryrelevant to policy makersmay not lie within Integrating Activity fields

2. Foresight studies:investigate the scientific needs in relation to a given class of infrastructure

3. Exploratory Workshopspotential partners in the field of research infrastructuresthat have little history of transnational co-operationto explore strategies for better coordinationpossibly leading to a FP proposalfor coordinating workmay not lie within Integrating Activity fields

Reinforce the next FP for added-value via better consistency, critical mass, transnational collaboration and competitionEffective coordination of national programmes with both OMC and ERA-NET mechanismsBring public and private stakeholders together to strengthen roadmaps and foresighting activitiesEuropean public investment in new technology R&D should increase by a factor of 3 by 2010Focus upon transforming our knowledge into wealth and quality of life