On 15 September 2025, the EU Commission launched a new European strategy on research and technology (R&T) infrastructures, aiming to boost Europe’s leadership in scientific excellence and technological innovation. The new framework will give scientists, researchers, innovators, and industry easy access to Europe’s cutting-edge facilities, high-quality data and tailored services. The strategy identifies five areas of action, beginning with the strengthening the ecosystem of European research and technology infrastructures. This should include increased capacity, investment mobilisation, and better alignment of available facilities and services with user needs.
Simpler and better access to R&T infrastructures is expected to provide researchers and innovative companies with a continuum of complementary services. Great attention has also been paid to making Europe more attractive to talents, in line with the “Choose Europe” approach. R&T infrastructures should also support the “fifth freedom”, namely the free movement of research, innovation and knowledge. The governance framework for R&T infrastructures should better support long-term investment decisions and align priorities among the EU member states and stakeholders.