Deadline Date: June 16, 2026
The European Commission (EC) is opening opportunities to support the development of new concepts for research infrastructures and major transformative upgrades or extensions of existing infrastructures.
Focus areas for this initiative include supporting planning and decision-making for research infrastructures at both national and European levels through robust science cases, including feasibility and design studies; aligning the European research infrastructure landscape with advances in science, frontier research, and technological innovation; increasing performance, scientific capacity, and excellence of the research infrastructure landscape; providing new services and access opportunities to the research community to address societal and scientific challenges; and reducing environmental impacts while optimizing resource and energy consumption during the early development phases of research infrastructures or major upgrades.
The scope of this initiative covers the creation of new research infrastructure concepts of European interest, whether single-site, multi-site, distributed, or virtual, which individual countries may struggle to implement alone. Major upgrades or extensions of existing infrastructures may also be considered if they are significantly transformative, equivalent to a new infrastructure concept. Routine maintenance, incremental improvements, or the addition of a single new component do not fall within the scope. When proposing a new concept, applicants should first assess the option of extending existing infrastructures or integrating pan-European and national capacities to meet service needs, explicitly justifying alternative approaches when necessary.
Proposals must demonstrate the uniqueness and added value of the research infrastructure for the European Research Area, addressing the existing landscape and the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) landscape. They should highlight the scientific challenges that the infrastructure will enable researchers to tackle, identify gaps it fills in the current infrastructure landscape, explore synergies with existing infrastructures at European and global levels, and, when relevant, indicate potential regional impacts.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate technical and conceptual feasibility by identifying suitable technologies and architecture, outlining scientific user communities and their needs, planning research services, evaluating governance options, and proposing strategies for stakeholder engagement and wide membership. Additionally, proposals should include initial financial plans for implementation and long-term sustainability, including synergies with other funding programs, and plans for efficient data curation, preservation, and access aligned with FAIR principles.
The total funding allocated for this initiative is €10,000,000, with individual projects eligible for €2,000,000 to €3,000,000. Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including entities from non-associated third countries or international organizations, may participate, provided they meet the Horizon Europe Regulation and specific call requirements. Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) and undergo validation during grant preparation.
For more information, visit EC.
