Construction of New Infrastructures

Specific objectives

The objective of this scheme is to optimise European infrastructures by providing limited support for the development of a restricted number of projects for new infrastructures in duly justified cases where such support could have a critical catalysing effect in terms of European added value. This support, taking due account of Member States' opinion, may supplement contributions from the EIB or the Structural Funds (for projects located in Member States) to the funding of these infrastructures. In the latter case the regional and transregional impact of the proposed infrastructure will be taken into account.

Support may also be granted for a major enhancement or upgrading of existing infrastructures, in particular where this would represent a possible alternative to the construction of a new infrastructure. The scheme may also contribute, where appropriate, to the construction of an infrastructure of world-wide relevance not existing in Europe (including infrastructures to be constructed outside the Member States and Associated States), provided that organisations established in the Member States or Associated States are active participants and to the extent that a clear European interest exists in the use of that infrastructure.

In general, funding provided for new or enhanced infrastructures will be limited to the minimum necessary to catalyse the activity; the major part of construction and operation, and the long-term sustainability of the infrastructures in question being assured by national and/or other sources of finance. Such funding would only be provided on the basis of a detailed justification, based on European added value, addressing the scientific, legal and financial dimensions of the proposed development.

European added value should be demonstrated in terms of an improved attractiveness for, and/or improved services to, the research community in Europe (e.g. in terms of a wider accessibility of the proposed infrastructure, of a more advanced technology, of a more flexible adaptability to interdisciplinary studies, of a better connectivity to the research community). Where relevant, Community support will be subject to the provision of improved services by the new infrastructure (e.g. free access for European researchers to a specific instrument, or equivalent discounted services, for a number of years).