Implementing research infrastructure technology roadmaps

Project results are expected to contribute to several of the following expected outcomes:

• enhanced scientific and technological competitiveness of European research infrastructures;
• enhanced research infrastructure capacities to address research challenges and EU policy priorities;
• increased technological level of European industries through the co-development of advanced technologies for research infrastructures and creation of potential new markets;
• increased availability of research infrastructure component manufacturing capabilities currently not available in Europe;
• long-term integration of research infrastructures into local, regional and global research and innovation ecosystems;
• strengthened foundations for the development of innovative companies in Europe.

Research infrastructures require constant technology development to maintain and upgrade their services and to create new ones, to keep pace with the advancements of research and meet the requirements of emerging user communities from academia and innovation ecosystems. The manufacturing capacity of industry, including SMEs, is often required for this, and the co-creation of technological components is a defining feature of many research infrastructures. In some cases, manufacturing capabilities are lacking inside the EU, putting Europe's technological sovereignty at stake.

Several research infrastructure and technology communities, such as the accelerator, light source, or astronomy communities, have already developed research infrastructure technology roadmaps that identify key components necessary to maintain Europe's leading position in research infrastructure technologies.

Projects should implement significant parts of, or entire existing research infrastructure technology roadmaps through co-creation with industrial partners from the earliest possible stage. The technology roadmaps should be the result of a community or cross-community effort already undertaken, and they should not be the result of an isolated effort, e.g., of a single research infrastructure. The technological solutions developed should respond to the needs of several research infrastructures, and in some cases the needs of different types of research infrastructures.

Proposals are expected to involve research infrastructures and industrial partners, including SMEs, or other technological partners, to promote innovation and knowledge sharing through co-creation of required technological solutions and, when appropriate, make use of large-scale platforms combining R&D, integration and validation for technological developments. While industry, including SMEs, or other technological partners do not need to be consortium members, proposals should show evidence of their commitment via engagement letters or other forms of endorsement. If applicable, proposals should describe how such partners will be identified in the course of the action.

Furthermore, proposals should contribute to fostering the innovation potential of research infrastructures by reinforcing the partnership with industry, through e.g. transfer of knowledge and other dissemination activities.

Proposals should address the following aspects as well:

• development of identified fundamental technologies or techniques underpinning and arising from the efficient and joint use of the involved research infrastructures, taking into account resource efficiency (e.g. raw material and energy consumption) and environmental (including climate-related) impacts.
• prototyping of high-performance methodologies, protocols, and instrumentation, including the testing of components, subsystems, materials, and dedicated software, needed to upgrade the involved research infrastructures, construct their next generation, or develop new advanced applications.

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants. Given the type of action (e.g. limited number of choices in specific technology fields) and its level of ambition, the maximum amount that can be granted to each third party may exceed the standard limit of EUR 60 000 if duly justified in the proposal.

Proposals may also include Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) subcontracting activities. This option encourages the use of public procurements for the competitive development of new specific solutions, whilst opening market opportunities for industry, including SMEs, and researchers active in Europe. By establishing the procurement process in consecutive phases, the PCP activity can support the development of competing designs, prototypes, and solution testing. This ensures that investment risks do not prevent tackling specific scientific and technological issues and allows to approach a problem from different angles and to test different solutions.

When appropriate, proposals should also build on results from past/ongoing projects such as the ones funded under Horizon 2020 topics INFRAINNOV-03-2020 and INFRAINNOV-04-2020, and under Horizon Europe topics HORIZON-INFRA-2022-TECH-01-01 and HORIZON-INFRA-2024-TECH-01-01 and avoid overlap with them.