Research infrastructures

What are research infrastructures?

Research infrastructures constitute a reserve of research facilities, equipment, materials and services facilitating research and development at different stages of innovation, supporting organised research, researcher training and teaching at universities, and maintaining and developing research and innovation capacity. Research infrastructures may be located at a single place, scattered across numerous sites and organisations, or provided via a virtual platform.

The Academy of Finland provides funding for the acquisition, establishment or upgrading of nationally significant research infrastructures that promote scientific research.

The task of the Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee (FIRI Committee) is, for instance, to update the overall strategy concerning research infrastructures and to develop Finland’s research infrastructure policy. The FIRI Committee will update Finland’s national roadmap for infrastructures in 2013 at the latest and assess the urgency and priority order of projects included in the roadmap. Decisions on funding for research infrastructures are made by a subcommittee appointed by the Board of the Academy.

The call for plans of intent (stage 1) for the 2013 update of the national roadmap for research infrastructures is open 15 November 2012–1 February 2013.

Another task of the FIRI Committee is to draft proposals on infrastructure funding for the state budget as well as for other funding sources, where necessary. The Committee will also carry out surveys and reviews and put forward recommendations on research infrastructures and infrastructure funding. In addition, the Committee is responsible for any other tasks related to research infrastructure policy assigned by the Government or the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.