Preparatory Phase of new ESFRI projects and early phase support to ESFRI high strategic potential areas

The aim of this activity is to provide catalytic and leveraging support for the preparatory phase of ESFRI projects, and to new initiatives in areas of high strategic potential, leading to the construction of new research infrastructures or major upgrades of existing ones.

 (a) Preparatory Phase for new research infrastructure projects which enter the ESFRI Roadmap in 2018 (Coordination and Support actions)

The preparatory phase aims to bring the project for the new or upgraded research infrastructure identified in the ESFRI Roadmap to the level of legal, financial, and, where applicable, technical maturity required for implementing it.

Proposal consortia should involve all the stakeholders necessary to move the project forward, to take the decisions, and to make the financial commitments, before construction can start (including, but not limited to, national/regional ministries/governments, research councils or funding agencies from the countries that have already declared their commitment in the application to ESFRI). Appropriate contacts with ministries and decision-makers should be continuously reinforced, thus further strengthening the consortia. Operators of research facilities, research centres, universities, and industry may also be involved whenever appropriate. Technical work should be carried out when necessary to complete the final technical design, providing a sound technical base for establishing a cost baseline and detailed financial planning. The financial needs of the project should be mapped out to the extent necessary for funding agencies to establish their own medium- and long-term financial planning. Societal and economic benefits of the infrastructure should be analysed to carry out a Cost-benefit analysis^[2].

The preparation of the legal and financial agreements (including site, governance, internal rules, financing of the new research infrastructures) is one of the main activities and deliverables and should be finalised before the end of the project (e.g., through the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding).

The detailed list of activities that can be included in a preparatory phase proposal is given in part A of the section “Specific features for Research Infrastructures”. Proposals should explain any synergies and complementarities with previous or current EU grants.

 (b) Support to Early Phase for research infrastructure initiatives in high strategic potential areas of research identified in the ESFRI Roadmap 2018 (Research and Innovation Actions)

This support aims to foster the development of pan-European research infrastructures in areas demonstrating particularly high strategic potential for the European Research Area, as identified in the ESFRI Roadmap 2018.

To this extent activities will include the needed scientific, technical and conceptual work: e.g. the drafting of the new research infrastructure architecture, including the role of the central coordination and the different nodes; the planning of research services to be provided at international level as well as user strategy and access policy; plans to coherently integrate the new infrastructure into the European landscape of related facilities; the estimated budget for construction and operation; plans for an international governance structure, specification of ICT and e-Infrastructure needs. Proposals should explain any synergies and complementarities with previous or current EU grants.