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Challenge 4c: Funding strategies
R.-J. Smits, Director, Research DG, European Commission
Research Infrastructures under Framework Programme 7
The overall objective of the “Research infrastructures” part of the FP7 Capacities programme is to optimise the use and development of the best research infrastructures currently existing in Europe. Furthermore, it aims to contribute to the construction of new research infrastructures of pan-European interest in all fields of science and technology.
The action for research infrastructures addresses several challenges, in particular: efficiently supporting existing infrastructures by continuing and reinforcing integrating activities and e‑infrastructures; ensuring a coverage of all science and technology fields and a better consistency with the other parts of FP7; fostering the emergence of new research infrastructures of pan-European interest by supporting the preparatory phase of the ESFRI Roadmap projects; mobilising the financial markets by making use of the Risk-Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF); and strengthening policy developments by implementing ERAnets and supporting international cooperation.
T. Barrett, Director, European Investment Bank (EIB)
The role of the European Investment Bank
The financing of large European research infrastructures ranks amongst the key priorities of the EIB as the Bank’s substantial financial contribution to projects such as CERN, FEL Trieste, IMEC or INMARSAT demonstrates. The newly created Risk Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF), a joint EU/EIB facility for the financing of private and public research activities, will significantly increase the EU’s capacity to finance research infrastructure projects through a new, innovative approach based on risk sharing with public stakeholders. The development of new
financing solutions addressing the specific needs of Research Infrastructure promoters should potentially contribute materially to accelerating the implementation of ESFRI projects.
D. de Lucena, Administrator of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Foundations and Trusts
The main advantage of Foundations and Trusts is their ability to make choices and concentrate their resources on the issues they see as a priority, and their flexibility in the redeployment of those resources, when time and circumstances call for a change in priorities. Great care should be taken not to get tied to a specific venture for an overly long period. That still leaves Foundations with an important role of in this area. Investment and running costs have quite different implications in this regard. Promoting innovative institutional designs should also be a consideration.
C. White, Regional Policy DG, European Commission
Structural funds
