Implementation of strategy for Finnish research Infrastructures launched, first policies published

The Academy of Finland is preparing a new roadmap for research infrastructures following the call opened based on the Strategy for National Infrastructures in Finland 2020–2030 (pdf). The next funding call will open in spring 2021. The implementation programme for the strategy defines the key implementation measures, the parties responsible for and collaborating in the implementation and the planned timetable for the period 2020–2022 in six areas of development:

• responsibility and sustainable development
• long-term perspective and dynamism
• ownership and know-how
• digital platforms and data
• open access and collaboration
• wide and versatile impact.

To promote the objectives of the strategy, the Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee (FIRI Committee) has already decided on the policy lines concerning the administrative ownership and financing of research infrastructures. The aim is also to produce four ‘Best Practices’ publications and to advance cooperation with stakeholders in various ways.

The vision stated in the strategy is that high-class research infrastructure services increase the impact and international attraction of the Finnish research, education and innovation system. The objective is to promote the quality, competitiveness and renewal of research, to strengthen the broad-based impact of research environments and to increase national and international cooperation.

FIRI Committee outlines characteristics of administrative ownership and financing of national research infrastructures

At its meeting on 1 June 2020, the FIRI Committee outlined key roles and tasks related to the administrative ownership of research infrastructures. Ownership and know-how is one of the development areas mentioned in the Strategy for National Infrastructures in Finland 2020–2030. The objective during the strategy period is to clarify the meaning of ownership in the context of research infrastructures, its characteristics and the rights and obligations associated with it.

The second policy line decided by the FIRI Committee concerns the limits, criteria and uses of FIRI funding. FIRI funding is intended for national roadmap research infrastructures, or for non-roadmap infrastructures that meet the criteria set for national research infrastructures.

During the strategy period, the aim is also to develop a knowledge base on the overall funding of research infrastructures and on its long-term development and needs. The FIRI Committee has started collecting data on the total funding of research infrastructures as part of the 2020 FIRI roadmap call. In addition, the aim is to produce models and incentives developed together with research infrastructure operators to support long-term, but at the same time dynamic, technological and financial solutions. Another aim is to produce models for expanding the funding base and opening up other new opportunities, taking into account financial perspectives that exceed government terms.