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Research Infrastructures – International Facilities

Pioneering findings and cutting-edge technology on a global scale – enabled by international development and operation of large research facilities and infrastructures

Opportunities

  • International cooperation enables the development and operation of large, unique research infrastructures (RIs) that cannot be realized in a mere national effort due to their cost and complexity.
  • Such facilities attract top-class researchers from all over the world.
  • RIs create added value through the exchange of knowledge and technology across national and disciplinary borders.
  • RIs enable joint development to answer the major challenges facing us in future.

The Federal Government works jointly with European and international partners to develop and operate high-performing research infrastructures as a prerequisite for excellence and innovative strength.

At European level, the Federal Government is actively involved in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI).

The projects on the ESFRI Roadmap include large facilities such as particle accelerators or telescopes as well as distributed research infrastructures which link instruments or knowledge resources like databases or archives across countries.

European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)

The member states of the European Union, associated countries and the European Commission are represented in ESFRI. They work jointly to identify research infrastructures of pan-European interest, to facilitate the process of coordination in realizing them and to develop a strategic perspective for the development of the European research infrastructure landscape.

ESFRI Roadmap

The ESFRI Roadmap brings together the major plans of EU member states and associated countries with regard to joint research infrastructures in Europe. It is regularly updated, the most recent update being the ESFRI Roadmap 2021. A process to again update the Roadmap is planned for 2025.

ESFRI projects

The ESFRI Roadmap 2021 comprises 22 ESFRI projects in their preparatory phase and 44 ESFRI Landmarks that are already started or soon becoming operational. Many of the projects involve German participation.