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| Research Infrastructures |
Infrastructures Budget €1.8 Billion over FP7 Objective The overall objective of the Research Infrastructures part of the "Capacities" specific programme is to optimise the use and development of the best research infrastructures existing in Europe, and to help to create, in all fields of science and technology, new research infrastructures of pan-European interest needed by the European scientific community to remain at the forefront of the advancement of research, and help industry to strengthen its base of knowledge and its technological know how. What are research infrastructures? The term “research infrastructures” refers to facilities, resources and related services that are used by the research community to conduct top-level research in their respective fields. This definition covers: major scientific equipment or set of instruments; knowledge based-resources such as collections, archives or structured scientific information; enabling ICT-based infrastructures such as Grid, computing, software and communications; any other entity of a unique nature essential to achieve excellence in research. Such research infrastructures may be “single-sited” or “distributed” (a network of resources). Why is it important? Knowledge generation and, by implication, innovation, directly depend on the quality and availability of research infrastructures, which include facilities such as observatories, data banks, radiation sources and communication networks. What is financed under the FP7 Research Infrastructures programme? Support from the Community will only consider the optimisation, or emergence, of research infrastructures with a clear European dimension and added value in terms of performance and access. These infrastructures must contribute significantly to the development of European research capacities. The activities to be supported are identified under three main action lines:
What will be funded? Integrating Activities - providing a wider and more efficient access to, and use of, the research infrastructures exiting in EU Member States, Associated Countries and at international level when appropriate (including: transnational access, joint research and networking. ICT based e-Infrastructures - supporting a number of interrelated topics designed to foster the emergence of a new research environment in which ‘virtual communities’ share and exploit the collective power of European scientific and engineering facilities. Design Studies – concepts for new research infrastructures with clear European dimension and interest. Providing catalytic and leveraging support for the preparatory phase of new research infrastructures (but funding of the construction phase proper falls to national Governments. In the UK, the Research Councils are responsible for the Government's investment in large scientific facilities and are supported, where appropriate, by DIUS' Large Facilities Capital Fund (LFCF)). Policy development - supporting, in the context of building up the European Research Area and including international cooperation, the coordination of national and/or regional policies and programmes in the field of research infrastructures. Programme implementation and support to emerging needs - supporting the effective implementation of this programme by fostering cooperation among National Contact Points (NCPs) and promoting measures to identify emerging needs. Click here for further information on this theme.
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