European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)

What is ERIC?

The European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) is a specific legal form that facilitates the establishment and operation of Research Infrastructures with European interest.

The ERIC allows the establishment and operation of new or existing Research Infrastructures on a non-economic basis

The Commission provides practical guidelines to help potential applicants.

The ERIC becomes a legal entity from the date the Commission decision setting up the ERIC takes effect.

An ERIC can carry out some limited economic activities related to this task.

Advantages of an ERIC

• a legal capacity recognised in all EU countries
• flexibility to adapt to specific requirements of each infrastructure
• a faster process than creating an international organisation
• exemptions from VAT and excise duty

An ERIC may adopt its own procurement procedures which have to respect the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and competition.

Requirements for an ERIC

• it must be a European joint-venture (also allows the participation of countries from outside Europe)
• the infrastructure is necessary to carry out research programmes and projects
• it represents added-value in the development of the European Research Area (ERA) and significant improvement in the relevant scientific and technological fields
• effective access is granted to the European research community in accordance with the rules established in the statutes
• it contributes to the mobility of knowledge and/or researchers within the ERA
• it contributes to the dissemination and optimisation of the results 

Procedures for establishing an ERIC

Procedures to obtain a formal commitment of a state to become a member or host an ERIC vary from country to country. The stakeholders of future ERICs are advised to work, well in advance, with their national authorities when preparing an ERIC.