What the Commission is doing
In 2025, the European Commission will adopt a European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures.
Research infrastructures and technology infrastructures play a significant role in driving scientific excellence, technological innovation and industrial competitiveness. They are essential for fostering groundbreaking research, supporting deep-tech advancements and contributing to EU leadership in key strategic areas.
Building on the initiatives of the European Research Area (ERA), the future European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures will set out a coordinated approach to enhance the sustainability, accessibility and effectiveness of Europe’s research and technology infrastructures. It will align with the broad EU policy priorities, including bolstering competitiveness, enabling the clean transition, strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty and supporting innovative startups and scaleups.
The Strategy will outline measures to further integrate a truly European ecosystem of research and technology infrastructures, ensuring their long-term sustainability, while at the same time increasing their impact. It will provide researchers, innovators and industry with access to the cutting-edge facilities and services that support scientific and technological excellence and industrial competitiveness.
This Strategy will link with other Commission flagship initiatives, such as the future EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, for example by improving the accessibility and visibility of technology infrastructures for startups and scaleups, and the European strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Science, for example by working with the upcoming Resource for AI Science in Europe, RAISE.
Why the strategy is needed
Europe’s research and technology infrastructures are essential for scientific progress, innovation and industrial competitiveness. According to the report “Much more than a market” by Enrico Letta, the report on EU competitiveness by Mario Draghi, and the report “Align, act, accelerate”, these infrastructures are a critical component of our strategic autonomy and a key driver of our competitiveness and innovation capacity. However, they are facing major challenges threatening the sustainability of the ecosystem and preventing them from maximising their impact.
Many infrastructures operate in isolation, leading to inefficiencies and restricted access for researchers, innovators, and industry. Regional disparities further widen the innovation gap, preventing certain areas from fully benefiting from cutting-edge facilities. A European strategy is needed to foster integration, cross-border collaboration, and equitable access, in particular for startups and SMEs.
Funding is another key challenge. Research and technology infrastructures rely on fragmented financing from regional, national and EU sources, often lacking long-term sustainability. Better coordination will ensure stable support and maximise the impact of investments.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges. Although AI can enhance infrastructure capabilities and accelerate discoveries, a strategic approach is needed to integrate it effectively and address its high computing demands.
Finally, global uncertainties highlight the need for Europe to strengthen research security, energy sustainability, and autonomy in critical supply chains, bolstering the competitiveness of its economy through innovation. Research and technology infrastructures are central to these efforts, making coordinated EU action more urgent than ever.
How to get involved
Everyone can contribute to the design of the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures by participating in the online consultation until 22 May 2025.
Contributions will be collected, analysed and processed, to feed into the future strategy.
