1. February 2009 1

2. Research Infrastructures (incl. e-infrastructures) are:
Facilities, resources, and related services used by the scientific community for
Conducting leading-edge research
Knowledge transmission, knowledge exchanges and knowledge preservation
Today Research Infrastructures include
Major scientific equipment
Scientific collections, archives, structured information
ICT-based infrastructures
Europe has a long-standing tradition of excellence
“Facilities”, “resources” or “services” that are used by the scientific community for the
development of leading-edge research at EU level
knowledge transmission, knowledge exchanges and knowledge preservation;
This definition covers major equipments, scientific archives and structured information, enabling ICT-based infrastructures, and any other entity of a unique nature used for research. 2

3. Growing use of the e-infrastructure: the case of GÉANT3

4. Research infrastructures
Some thoughts…
Information is NOT knowledge; knowledge creation involves a complex process… the knowledge triangle within which research infrastructures are key elements
Research
Education
Innovation
Research infrastructures
Knowledge «industry» 4

5. European RIs are faced with a wide spectrum of issues
Globally unique to Regionally distributed;
Many stakeholders (from ministries to researchers);
Lack of funding (public and private) to face increasing cost / complexity of RIs;
Need to improve the efficiency of research services; Underlying and growing use of e-infrastructures; Integrating datasets and models;
Single countries do not have the critical mass: a need for cooperation;
Opportunities but difficulties of interaction between researchers and other stakeholders (e.g. statisticians?) 5

6. The case of Social Sciences & Humanities
DARIAH
5 Projects in development
CLARIN
SHARE
ESFRI E
urope
an S
trate
gy F
orum o
n Research Infrastructures
CESSDA & remote access to Official Statistics

7. Council of European Social Science Data Archives
Distributed infrastructure providing efficient data services and facilitating access of researchers to high quality data
CESSDA includes 20 European social sciences data archives; exists since over thirty years; holds some 25,000 data collections
The CESSDA Preparatory Phase aims at enabling the transition of CESSDA from an informal grouping of data archives to a formally constituted European Research Infrastructure (ERI)
CESSDA

8. Next call for Proposals under FP7 (research)
Open to Integrating Activities (I3), i.e. networking, joint research and transnational access / research services;
Opening Sept 09 (closing early Dec 09) allowing first contracts by second half 2010; EC support for 3 to 4 years; up to 10 M€ funding;
Targeted approach: for example, two topics:
European Social Science Data Archives and remote access to Official Statistics; Experts recommend collaboration between CESSDA & Official Statistics;
Integrating datasets / models for analysis, design, development of economic, social & other policies.

9. For further information
ESFRI on CORDIS
FP7 and Capacities Specific Programme
Research Infrastructures on CORDIS (FP6)
Research Infrastructures in Europa 9 9