FIRI 2024 roadmap call, 1st stage: Roadmap for Finnish Research Infrastructures 2025–2028

General guidelines for action plan

The action plan is submitted as a PDF appendix on the tab ‘Action plan’ in the online services. Read the call text carefully and familiarise yourself with the review guidelines and review form before you start writing the plan.

• The maximum length of the action plan is 20 pages.
• The paper size is A4.
• The font is Calibri/Carlito 12 pt.
• The line spacing is 1.
• The margins are 20 mm.
• The text is left-aligned.
• Do not use paragraph indents.
• The font size in tables and images must be at least 10 pt.
• Use a single-column layout when writing the text.
• The list of references is included in the length of the research plan. The font size in the list is 10 pt.
• All references must be added directly into the text, for example as follows: (author(s), year) or [number]. You must not use footnotes.
• The maximum size of the PDF appendix is 50 MB.

The instructions and structure provided must be followed to ensure the equal treatment of applicants. The application cannot be submitted if the system detects an error in the headings, the page configuration or the structure.

Write the action plan on our template.

• You must not edit or delete the headings in the template. If necessary, you may add subheadings (level 3).
• See the How-to guides for the online services for the technical instructions.

Begin the action plan with the following information:

Name of research infrastructure:

• in the same format as the name found in the drop-down menu or entered under ‘Other’ in the online services

Name of international research infrastructure:

• only if the research infrastructure applying for inclusion in the roadmap is a national node in an international research infrastructure whose member Finland is

Stage of research infrastructure’s lifecycle:

• (a) planning/construction/implementation or (b) operation/termination
• Consider the lifecycle stage requirements when writing your action plan.

Applicant organisation (head organisation):

Other participating research organisations (consortium parties):

Name of research infrastructure director:

Name of deputy director (if relevant)

Website of research infrastructure:

1          Scientific significance of research infrastructure

1.1         Scientific significance of research infrastructure and its role in the research landscape

Describe the relevance of the research infrastructure for promoting research quality, scientific renewal and research competitiveness in a national and international context. What research does the infrastructure serve? What is its vision?

• What role does the infrastructure play in Finland’s infrastructure and research landscape? How does the infrastructure strengthen the existing national and international research infrastructure and research landscape? What synergies do you identify with other infrastructure actors?
• How is the infrastructure linked or how will it be linked to the infrastructure and research landscape internationally?
• How much scientific output will the infrastructure produce each year, e.g. publications per year 2019–2023?
• How has the infrastructure contributed to the development of the discipline and the creation of scientific breakthroughs?
• Consider the lifecycle stage of the infrastructure in your answer.

1.2         Responsible science: research ethics, equality and nondiscrimination

How are the principles of good scientific practice and good governance considered in the infrastructure activities? Read more: Research ethics

How will the research infrastructure take into account and implement equality in its activities? Read more: Equality and nondiscrimination

2          Wide and versatile impact

2.1         Versatile impact

What societal impact outside the scientific community does the research infrastructure pursue? Describe the research infrastructure’s expected/realised openness, societal added value and impact beyond academia, for example:

• effects on business and industry, society and employment as well as connections with business activities and new business initiatives
• its effects on knowledge and innovation ecosystems.

How does the research infrastructure support the research, development and innovation (RDI) ecosystem as a whole? How do the infrastructure and its networks contribute to international RDI cooperation?

Consider the lifecycle stage of the infrastructure in your answer. For example, you can describe the paths of impact from the perspective of business, the public sector, employment or business cooperation.

How have impact objectives been discussed and agreed with stakeholders?

Describe the indicators of impact and how they will be monitored (for research infrastructures in the operational phase) or a plan for such indicators (for research infrastructures in the planning or construction phase).

How many new technologies will be created through the infrastructure?

2.2         The green transition and sustainable development

What concrete actions does the research infrastructure have to reach the carbon neutrality target? Has the research infrastructure assessed or planned to assess its own carbon footprint? If it has, how was it done and what were the results?

Briefly describe how, in addition to the green transition, the research infrastructure can contribute to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, either through its activities or through its services. How does it monitor the achievement of the objectives? Read more: Sustainable development principles

3          Operational activities of research infrastructure

3.1         Lifecycle stage of research infrastructure

Describe in more detail the chosen lifecycle category (a or b). Describe, for instance, the following:

 (a) planning/construction/implementation

• Is the research infrastructure in the planning, construction or implementation stage?
• What steps are required before the infrastructure can move to the implementation stage (construction schedule; planned operational start date; when services can be provided)?

 (b) operation/termination

• How long has the research infrastructure been in operation, and how long is it planned to continue?
• Is there an exit plan for the research infrastructure or its parts?

Which parts of the research infrastructure require upgrades and/or development before 2030?

3.2         Services provided by the research infrastructure and their use

Describe what services the research infrastructure provides now and in the future? How is the development of services linked to the infrastructure’s stated vision?

Define the users of the research infrastructure (e.g. person, research team, organisation, other entity) and how their number will be monitored. Who are the main users or groups of users?

What is the research infrastructure’s current and planned number of users per year on average and the utilisation rate? How and to what extent will the private sector, including businesses, use the research infrastructure?

How will the infrastructure train new talents? Describe how you plan to expand its use and user base. How will the shared use of the infrastructure with non-research actors be promoted?

Describe the research infrastructure’s usage policy and service models. Describe where information on access to the research infrastructure can be found. Are fees charged for using the infrastructure? Can the infrastructure be accessed remotely? (Please note that open access does not mean that the use is free of charge.) Is access restricted in some way, for example to only research use, internal use or other uses? Are there any conditions for the use, such as passing a scientific selection process, evaluation of a research plan or other conditions? How are the access rights managed?

How is open access to the research infrastructure being promoted at national or international level?

3.3         Ownership and organisation of research infrastructure

Which organisation(s) own the research infrastructure and are involved in its operation and provision of services? Briefly describe the organisational structure of the infrastructure in Finland, including the management, host organisations and their roles and duties? How is the work distributed between the different functions?

Does the research infrastructure have a legal personality? How are its activities and the research it facilitates aligned with the strategies of the host organisations? In the case of a consortium, are there any agreements between the hosts, e.g. on division of labour or ownership? How have the roles been or how will they be agreed and the commitment ensured between organisations? Consider the lifecycle stage of the infrastructure in your answer.

3.4         Expertise of research infrastructure

What are the qualifications of the infrastructure’s director and key personnel regarding the infrastructure’s activities? Give an estimate of how many of them (in percentages) have a permanent employment relationship?

How do the qualifications of other research infrastructure staff support the infrastructure’s activities? What is the proportion of permanent staff among other staff?

What are the skills needs of the infrastructure’s staff in relation to its lifecycle stage. What expertise will the infrastructure need in the future? Is there a plan for the development of staff skills? What career paths are available for infrastructure staff? Does the infrastructure currently offer, or plan to offer in the future, job rotation or other forms of support that are relevant to staff tasks?

3.5         Risk management plan of research infrastructure

What are the critical points for the successful operation of the research infrastructure in its current and possible future lifecycle stage, and what are the alternative implementation strategies? Briefly describe the infrastructure’s risk management plan.

3.6         Digitalisation and data

The data management policy of the research infrastructure should be described in a separate appendix.

In its activities, how does the research infrastructure take account of the needs for change created by the growth of digitalisation and data intensity?

How does the infrastructure take care of data security (protecting digital data from corruption, theft or unauthorised access) throughout its lifecycle?

Please describe how the infrastructure relates to the EOSC (European Open Science Cloud).

4          Description of development project (funding applied for in second stage)

Briefly describe the development project for which funding is sought, if the application proceeds to the second stage. The project is described in more detail in the second-stage funding application.

Which parts of the research infrastructure require upgrades and/or development before 2030, and why? How will the project contribute to the infrastructure strategy and develop its operations and services? How does the development project align with the infrastructure’s lifecycle stage and vision?

What are the main measures and construction included in the development project? Estimate how much money is needed.

References

Please list the sources used in this action plan.

The list of references is included in the length of the action plan.

The font size in the list is 10 pt. All references must be added directly into the text, for example as follows: (author(s), year) or [number]. You must not use footnotes.