Research infrastructures

The RCF provides funding for the acquisition, establishment and upgrading of nationally significant research infrastructures that advance scientific research.

The RCF offers funding to support the establishment and development of Finnish and international research infrastructures. Applications for research infrastructure funding are reviewed by international panels of experts. Open calls are posted on the RCF website.

Roadmaps have been drawn up for significant national research infrastructures, demonstrating the strong commitment of host organisations to maintaining infrastructures and to user-driven development. Learn more about research infrastructure roadmaps. Also read our Long-term plan for research infrastructures 2030 (PDF).

What is a research infrastructure?

Research infrastructures include equipment, data networks, databases, research centres, stations, collections, and libraries and other memory organisations, as well as related services. They offer researchers and RDI actors shared and often international resources that serve to strengthen collaboration.

Research infrastructures support R&D, teaching and researcher training, maintain and develop innovation capacity, and enhance the quality, competitiveness and regeneration of research. In this way, they reinforce the versatile impact and national and international appeal of research environments.

Research infrastructures may be single-sited, distributed or virtual, or a combination of these. Europe hosts several large-scale research infrastructures that are open to collaborative use across national boundaries.

Research infrastructures have versatile impact and are often at the heart of a science and technology cluster.

Learn more about research infrastructures.

The aim of RCF research infrastructure funding is to improve the quality, regeneration, competitiveness and interdisciplinarity of Finnish research and to increase the appeal of Finnish research environments. Research infrastructures and the networks they form support high-quality and high-impact RDI at local, national and international levels.

A national research infrastructure is a nationally or internationally significant research infrastructure that reinforces the quality of research and education.

A national research infrastructure also has impact on business and industry and the wider society.
The ownership and organisational structure of a national research infrastructure is clear, and the key skills needs of management and personnel are known.
A national research infrastructure must have a long-term plan for maintaining and developing its services. The services and data produced by the research infrastructure must be openly available.
A national research infrastructure must take into account the needs for change created by digitalisation and data-intensive activities as well as sustainable development goals.
The funding base for a national research infrastructure must be sustainable and cannot rely too heavily on competitive funding from the RCF.

Many national-level research infrastructures are part of a larger, international research infrastructure. Finland is also a member of several international research infrastructures, either through state treaties or other agreements. The vast majority of research infrastructure memberships come under the administrative branch of the Finnish Ministry of Education, Science and Culture.

A local research infrastructure is significant locally and regionally and takes into account the growth of digitalisation and the green transition. It is a reserve of research equipment, materials and services that contributes to excellent research, development and innovation.

It may be an existing infrastructure or one that is under construction.
A local infrastructure supports the strategy of its host organisation. It boosts regional specialisation and growth and serves as a (local/regional) hub of expertise, a platform for cooperation or a partner.
A local research infrastructure must have a plan for the maintenance, development and availability of services.
All data produced with the local research infrastructure must be as open as possible and as closed as necessary.