International cooperation
Some research facilities, particularly in physics or astronomy, are so large, complex or expensive that they require international cooperation to construct and operate them.
Others are naturally global in scope as they respond to global challenges and/or require the combined skills and data of scientists in different parts of the world, like all collaborations in the environmental monitoring.
The teams building and running the world’s great scientific facilities are international and constitute excellent collaborative hubs.
The EU’s research programme fosters the international dimension of research infrastructures and promotes them as catalysers of broad cooperation on the advancement of human knowledge.
OECD Global Science Forum (GSF)
The European Commission’s research infrastructures team is engaged with relevant OECD work and takes part in its working groups and workshops. The OECD’s Global Science Facility has produced valuable reports on international collaboration in science and the role of research infrastructures.
The Group of Senior Officials on Global Research Infrastructures (GSO)
The Group of Senior Officials on Global Research Infrastructures (GSO) was established in 2008 by G8 science ministries in recognition of the potential for increased international cooperation on Global Research Infrastructures (GRIs).
Based on the mandates issued in 2008, 2013 and 2015, the Group focussed on various issues of international cooperation, including the sharing of information on plans to construct new large-scale research facilities, a framework for GRI, promoting access to scientific instruments, and sharing scientific data and information.
The Group currently operates on a mandate received from the G7 in 2022.