This presentation is from the EPA's FP7 Environment National Information Day 2010. For further information, see http://www.fp7ireland.com/

1. FP7-Environment National Information Day
Research Infrastructures Programme Opportunities
6th October 2010

2. Funding under FP7

3. Research Infrastructures
Definition: refers to facilities, resources and related services that
are used by the scientific community to conduct top-level
research in their respective fields.
Including:
• Major scientific equipment or set of instruments, observatories
• Knowledge- based resources such as data banks, collections,
Knowledge-
archives or structured scientific information
• Enabling ICT-based infrastructures such as Grid, computing, software
ICT-
and communication networks
•RI’s are “single-sited” or “distributed” (resources are then networked)
Research Infrastructures funded must have clear European
dimension and added value

4. Work Programme for Research Infrastructures
Activities Areas Topics
1. Existing Integrating Activities Bottom up
Infrastructures
Targeted approach
ICT based e- E-Science
Infrastructure
Scientific Data Infra
2. New Design Studies non-ESFRI
Infrastructures
Preparatory Phase ESFRI
Construction Phase ESFRI
3. Policy Coordination of ERAnets,
Development & national and regional Conferences, Studies
Programme policies
Implementation

5. 1. Existing Research Infrastructure (RI)
Integrating Activities:
Funding available to improve the RI, integrate with other RI’s, conduct joint
research etc.
RI’s receive funding so that other researchers can access their facilities.
Integrated Infrastructure Initiative Activities (I3 Model)
1. Networking Activities
2. Trans-national access and/or service activities
3. Joint research activities

6. Integrating Activities Topics 2010 Call
Topics in the field of "Environmental Sciences and Energy”
• Research Infrastructures for Carbon Cycle Observations.
• Integrated non-CO2 greenhouse gas Observing Systems.
• Integrated observatories & centres for marine and freshwater
biodiversity and for long-term ecosystems research
• Research infrastructures for forestry research
• Multidisciplinary Marine Data Centres
• Research Infrastructures for thermo-chemical biomass conversion
• Research Infrastructures for Hydrogen & Fuel Cells facilities
7 / 23 topics devoted to Environmental Sciences
11 / 23 topics estimated to be funded
Maximum ask per project € 10 million

7. 2. New Research Infrastructures
•Design studies (Non-ESFRI Projects): seek to support the
Design (Non-
conceptual design of new research infrastructures of European
importance. Major upgrades of existing infrastructures may also be
supported if the end result of such upgrading will be equivalent to the
creation of a new infrastructure. All disciplines are eligible for support.
•Preparatory Phase support (ESFRI Projects): provides leveraging
Preparatory
support for the preparatory phase of the construction of new
infrastructures or major upgrades of existing ones, as they appear on the
ESFRI Roadmap. Brings collaborative projects to the level of legal,
financial and technical maturity required to implement the project.
•Construction Phase Support (ESFRI Projects): building on the
Construction
achievements under the Preparatory Phase, funds implementation of
common solutions for cluster of ESFRI infrastructures

8. Environmental Sciences and Energy projects on
the ESFRI Roadmap 2008 with Irish interest/
involvement
2006:
Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observatory (EMSO)
Ocean Observing Buoy System (Euro-Argo)
Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS)
Infra for Rsh on Biodiversity (LIFEWATCH)
2008:
European Plate Observing System (EPOS)
European CO2 and Storage Lab Infra (ECCSEL)
European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC)

9. 3. Policy Development & Programme
Implementation
Aim is to support, in the context of building the European Research Area,
the coordination of national and regional policies in the field of research
infrastructures, as well as the work of policy-oriented groups such as
ESFRI (European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures) and e-IRG
(e-Infrastructure Reflection Group)
Fund: ERA-NETS, Studies, Conferences supporting policy development;
Grants to named beneficiaries.

10. Research Infrastructures Calls DG RTD and DG INFSO
Call Closing Closing Closing Dec Closing Dec
25.11.10 25.11.10 2011 2012
1. Existing Infrastructures
Integrating Activities 104 X
ICT based E-Infrastructures
E- 70 X
2. New Infrastructures
Design Studies 20
Preparatory Phase (ESFRI) X
Construction Phase (ESFRI) 20 30 X
3. Policy Development &
Programme Implementation
Policy Development and 5 9.5 X
Programme Implementation
TOTAL 95 163.5 X X

11. How to get involved?
Integrating Activities
• Look at list of upcoming topics for this year’s and next year’s
Work Programmes
• Go to FP7 Ireland website to see projects funded under FP6
and FP7 for transnational access opportunities
http://www.fp7ireland.com/Page.aspx?SP=238
ESFRI Projects
• Contact National ESFRI Delegates to advise of interest
National Contact Point
• In contact with 35 other NCP’s as part of European network.
Can provide partner searches, information on existing consortia,
referral to relevant Project Officers in EC, details of FP7 Ireland
Travel support/ Coordinator support, use of meeting room in
Brussels etc.

12. Thank you for listening
Further information:
Mr. John Lynch, HEA – National Delegate jlynch@hea.ie
Ms. Sarah Dunne, HEA – National Contact Point sdunne@hea.ie