Promoting the development of a fabric of research infrastructures of highest quality and performance in Europe and their optimum use on a European scale

Activity areas:

• 1. Transnational access to major research infrastructures for research teams and individual researchers
• 2.1 Integrating activities combining cooperation networks with transnational access and research projects
• 2.2 Integrating activities including networking activities only
• 3. Communication network development in conjunction with thematic priority 2 (Information Society Technologies) to establish a high-capacity and high-speed communications network for all researchers in Europe (GÉANT) and specific high performance Grids and test-beds (GRIDs).
• 4. Design studies: feasibility studies and technical preparatory work for new infrastructures with European dimension
• 5. Development of new infrastructures: optimising of European infrastructures by providing limited support in duly justified cases, alongside with other funding agencies

Budget:

The indicative budget allocated to the Structuring activity Research infrastructures for the duration of FP6 is EUR 715 million.

Work undertaken on FP5 related to this area can be found at the following web pages:

• The Horizontal Programme Improving human research potential & the socio-economic knowledge-base at /improving/infrastructure/home.htm

• KA "Research Networking" of the IST (Information Society Technologies) Programme at:
  /ist/rn/home.html

Useful Links:

• A European approach to Research Infrastructures
• European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures

Events:

• 20 - 22 November 2003: International Conference on Research Infrastructures: Centres of Exchange, Training and Excellence for the European Research Area
  
  
• 18-20 Septembre 2000: Conference on Research Infrastructures