87th ESFRI Forum Meeting

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) convened its 87th meeting virtually, guided by its newly appointed Chair, José Luis Martínez, on March 7th and 8th, 2024. The focus of the discussions was on the upcoming ESFRI Roadmap 2026, the Landscape Analysis, and the pivotal role of research infrastructures in shaping the European Research Area (ERA).

Anna Panagopoulou, Director for ERA & Innovation at DG Research and Innovation, extended congratulations to the new ESFRI Chair, José Luis Martínez, on his appointment. She then referred to the upcoming report by Mr. Draghi on the future of European competitiveness. In the context of the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), the competitiveness and single market narrative could become more important than ever. In this narrative, research and innovation should be considered facilitators/enablers to promote competitiveness. Ms. Panagopoulou also presented the preparations put in place for the next Framework Programme, FP10. Results from the Heitor group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe are expected in autumn 2024.

ESFRI's journey towards the Roadmap 2026
Martínez, who assumed his role as ESFRI Chair in January 2024, emphasized the key challenges ahead, particularly the publication of the updated Landscape Analysis in 2024 and the publication of a new European Research Infrastructure Roadmap to be unveiled in 2026.

Whereas the Landscape Analysis (LA) provides an overview of the European research infrastructure ecosystem by identifying the main research infrastructures providing transnational access in Europe, in all fields of research, the ESFRI Roadmap includes European research infrastructure projects that have been identified as priorities for the development of the ERA.

Traditionally, the ESFRI Landscape Analysis and Roadmap were published as a single document until 2021. However, ESFRI recently decided to separate the Landscape Analysis from the Roadmap. The upcoming Landscape Analysis 2024 will thus be available as a standalone document for the scientific community, providing the framework and the rationale for the next ESFRI Roadmap

ESFRI´s Work Plan 2024-2025
The 87th ESFRI Forum approved the implementation steps for its 2024-2025 program, including the approval of the ESFRI Work Plan and the appointment of new chairs for ESFRI working groups, the implementation group, and the monitoring committee.

Among the notable discussions at the forum was the concept of European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDICs). Andreas Geiss, Head of Unit for Research Strategy and Programme Coordination in DG CONNECT of the European Commission, presented this concept to the ESFRI Forum, citing the Commission's 2022 Decision outlining targets for the digital transformation of Europe by 2030. Inspired by the success of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), EDICs aim to implement multi-country projects outlined in the Digital Decade Policy Programme.