Choose Europe for world-class research and technology infrastructures
On 15 September 2025, the European Commission adopted a new, long-term European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures.
Research infrastructures and technology infrastructures are the backbone of Europe’s research and innovation system. They range from advanced laboratories, large scientific instruments and data centres to pilot lines, testbeds and clean rooms. Together, they support the full innovation cycle – from frontier science to the validation and deployment of new technologies. This makes them essential for Europe’s scientific excellence, competitiveness and technological sovereignty.
The strategy sets out a comprehensive approach to strengthen this ecosystem, ensuring that infrastructures remain world-class, more accessible, and better aligned with the needs of scientists, innovators and industry.
Key priorities include:
- Reinforcing the ecosystem by investing in building critical new capacities, mobilising investment through enhanced funding coordination and harnessing digitalisation and AI across infrastructures.
- Facilitating and improving access so that scientists, researchers, and innovative companies including startups and scaleups have more opportunities to use cutting-edge facilities and services across Europe.
- Attracting and developing talent from managers and technical specialists to scientific leaders and innovators, world class infrastructures are a compelling reason to Choose Europe.
- Improving governance to support long-term investment, align national and European priorities, and increase the impact of public funding.
- Strengthening international cooperation and resilience, enhance Europe’s sovereignty in critical research data and reinforce its position in science diplomacy.
This Strategy links with other Commission flagship initiatives, such as the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, for example by including pilot access schemes for startups and scaleups to technology infrastructures , and the upcoming AI in Science Strategy, European Innovation Act, and European Research Area Act.Through these actions, the Commission is working with Member States and stakeholders to create an integrated and sustainable landscape of world class infrastructures that will drive scientific excellence, technological innovation and Europe’s competitiveness.
Why the strategy is needed
Europe’s research and technology infrastructures are essential for scientific progress, innovation and industrial competitiveness. According to the report “Much more than a market” by Enrico Letta, the report on EU competitiveness by Mario Draghi, and the report “Align, act, accelerate”, these infrastructures are a critical component of our strategic autonomy and a key driver of our competitiveness and innovation capacity. However, they are facing major challenges threatening the sustainability of the ecosystem and preventing them from maximising their impact.
Many infrastructures operate in isolation, leading to inefficiencies and restricted access for researchers, innovators, and industry. Regional disparities further widen the innovation gap, preventing certain areas from fully benefiting from cutting-edge facilities. A European strategy is needed to foster integration, cross-border collaboration, and equitable access, in particular for startups and SMEs.
Funding is another key challenge. Research and technology infrastructures rely on fragmented financing from regional, national and EU sources, often lacking long-term sustainability. Better coordination will ensure stable support and maximise the impact of investments.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges. Although AI can enhance infrastructure capabilities and accelerate discoveries, a strategic approach is needed to integrate it effectively and address its high computing demands.
Finally, global uncertainties highlight the need for Europe to strengthen research security, energy sustainability, and autonomy in critical supply chains, bolstering the competitiveness of its economy through innovation. Research and technology infrastructures are central to these efforts, making coordinated EU action more urgent than ever.
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
How the strategy was shaped
In addition to regular engagement with key stakeholders from both the research infrastructures and technology infrastructures communities, an open public consultation was held between 24 to 22 May 2025, attracting 441 responses from academic and research institutions, companies, public authorities, non-governmental organisations and citizens.
Contributions were collected, analysed and processed in the form of a report which provided valuable intelligence for the formation of the strategy.
Documents
Choose Europe for world-class research and technology infrastructures.
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Today, the Commission has launched the European strategy on research and technology infrastructures to boost Europe's leadership in scientific excellence and technological innovation.
These infrastructures play a key role in driving scientific excellence, technological innovation, and industrial competitiveness. This is why the Commission is prioritising a strategy to boost such infrastructures.
