The new EU Research and Technology Infrastructure Strategy support national infrastructure policy – reforms in funding and programs are needed

Research and technology infrastructures are essential for developing scientific and technological breakthroughs and innovations, as well as bringing them closer to the market. They area also instrumental for developing solutions to societal challenges. The holistic approach to infrastructure ecosystem, as emphasised by the Commission’s in the new strategy , should be adopted into Finnish RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) policy.

Infrastructure operations should be developed in ways that:

• Strengthen the synergy between basic and applied research
• Take into account different technology readiness levels (TRLs)
• Support collaboration between infrastructures
• Develop service offerings by sector and technology area
• Facilitate the use and accessibility of infrastructures

Applied research requires up-to-date infrastructures

The EU strategy highlights the importance of both types of infrastructures. Investments, new funding models, and the development of technological and digital capabilities of infrastructures are needed, including the collection and development of AI-ready research data. The focus of development activities should be in strategic and emerging fields and deep technologies, as well as the value chains around them. Infrastructures are central in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, promoting the green transition, food security, health, safety, and functions of society. In addition, more attention should be paid to the quality of measurements and testing conducted in infrastructures to ensure their international comparability. The infrastructure funding should be developed and targeted to support the operations of infrastructures, collaboration between infrastructures and facilitate the development of joint services of infrastructures operating in different technology readiness levels (TRLs) across sectors. At national level, accessibility to infrastructures should be improved by simplifying the access conditions and terms for use.

Strategies and funding solutions strengthen competitiveness

The national plans should be aligned with EU strategies and funding models. This improves possibilities of Tulanet research institutes and other Finnish actors to benefit from EU initiatives targeted to development infrastructures and building of innovation ecosystems. A proactive approach to infrastructure investments is essential in a rapidly changing operational environment and fast pace technological development. The role of infrastructures in supporting Finland’s competitiveness should also be recognised in RDI policy. Funding programs should be designed for the needs of both, research and technology infrastructures. The path from basic research to market-ready innovations and solutions to support also decision-making must be secured, and these paths should be built on the strengths of Finland. The interfaces between research and technology infrastructures are an asset that should be leveraged more in the future. Infrastructures that are complementary and world-class attract also international talents and help to keep the research in these areas in Finland.

Multidisciplinarity promotes competence and knowledge valorisation

The multidisciplinary research and technology infrastructures of Tulanet research institutes form unique environments for capabilities and expertise and knowledge valorisation. Skills development of staff working in these facilities and their diverse competencies should be supported through investments training and infrastructure collaboration. Infrastructures connect Finnish RDI actors to EU and global networks and support collaboration with companies, cities, and public sector. Research data produced through infrastructures is also widely used in political decision-making and business. Infrastructures enable long-term monitoring and follow-up studies, which have a significant value in research and are used for the development and reforming of our society.

National infrastructure policy should accelerate the multidisciplinarity and be cross-sectorial

The development of national infrastructure policy should be based on the purpose, enabled functions and intended use of infrastructures. The efforts and targets should address for high quality, competitiveness and resilience in areas and topics that are strategic for Finland. Coordination and collaboration between RDI actors, stakeholders, companies, cities, municipalities, regions and public sector actor is essential and should be increased.

Tulanet emphasises the following measures as starting points for implementing the EU strategy (2025–2027):

• A national prioritisation mechanism is needed to identify and guide strategic investments and take into account the specific characteristics of both research and technology infrastructures. Investment needs should be gathered as part of sector-, research and technology field-specific strategies and roadmaps.
• Maximising the impact of infrastructure funding to accelerate and leverage companies’ RDI contributions, attract international investments to Finland, and promote the EU funding as catalyst. State aid rules should be further developed to support the needs of infrastructures, and their interpretation should be aligned and harmonised across EU member states.
• Developing a national co-funding mechanism for Finland to benefit from large EU initiatives.
• Adopting the definition of technology infrastructure proposed by the Commission into national legislation and funding programs.
• Developing the functions and capacity of existing infrastructures e.g. focusing on their digitalisation and digital capabilities, including remote access, data management, use of AI tools and models, as well as data spaces and repositories.
• Utilisation of infrastructures for validation and the development of regulation and standards as part of the overall development strategies of infrastructures (including the use of infrastructure-generated data for legislative development processes).
• New funding models, such as reforming so called voucher scheme for access to infrastructures and including open calls for potential users in national and EU funding programs, and dedicated funding to enhance the collaboration between research and technology infrastructures and develop joint service offerings.
• Active participation in creation of the EU level coordination mechanism for technology infrastructures, reforming the ERIC regulation of European Research Infrastructure Consortia, and participation of the development of EOSC federation for open science infrastructure services. In addition, Finland should be active in preparation of sector-, research and technology field-specific EU strategies, taking into account the research fields of Tulanet research institutes.

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¹The European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures

²European Commission proposal for Horizon Europea 2.0 Regulation; Article 2 Definitions: ‘technology infrastructures’ are facilities, equipment, capabilities and resources required to develop, test, upscale and validate technology – from pre-competitive applied research services up to demonstration and validation;

For more information:
Mirka Gottberg, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd (mirka.gottberg@vtt.fi)
Sanna Marttinen, Finnish Partnership for Research Institutes (Tulanet) (sanna.marttinen@tulanet.fi)

Photo: VTT