European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) 

What is ESFRI?

The role of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) is to support a coherent approach to policy-making on research infrastructures in Europe, and to act as an incubator for international negotiations about concrete initiatives. In particular, ESFRI is preparing a European Roadmap for new research infrastructures of pan-European interest.

ESFRI was launched in April 2002. It brings together representatives of EU Member States and Associated States, appointed by Ministers in charge of Research, and one representative of the European Commission. The Forum consists of senior science policy officials representing the member state ministers, and a senior policy official representing the European Commission.

Roadmap for Research Infrastructures

The ESFRI Roadmap is meant to identify new Research Infrastructures of pan-European interest (or major upgrades). These may have different degrees of maturity but should be supported by a relevant European partnership or intergovernmental research organisation and to be realised in the next 10 to 20 years.

The ESFRI roadmap is an on-going process and it will be periodically updated. The different Member states and the European Commission will consider the roadmap to define priority projects to be supported at national and Community level.

List of Opportunities

Following a request from the European Commission, the ESFRI decided to compile a List of Opportunities (PDF 460KB) in order to assist the Commission in the preparation of its proposal for the Seventh Framework programme (FP7). The List of Opportunities is a balanced set of examples of concrete and mature projects for new Research Infrastructures of pan-European interest. One of these is a European infrastructure for research in and protection of biodiversity.