Cooperation of ESFRI RIs with Industry-Report

The cooperation between Research Infrastructures (RIs) and industry plays a crucial role in achieving scientific excellence and fostering innovation potential. However, the level of cooperation and its challenges remain less defined and monitored. To address this, ESFRI undertook a study on RI cooperation, exploring existing documents and conducting surveys with RIs. The findings of the report, titled Cooperation of ESFRI Research Infrastructures (Landmarks) with Industry, highlight the need for policy actions to enhance mutual benefits and overcome barriers such as different mindsets, access rules, and intellectual property rights. Understanding RIs’ potential to assist industry and society is vital for optimal resource allocation and successful cooperation.

The report emphasizes the importance of strategic analysis and ESFRI’s role in defining the space for cooperation between research infrastructures (RIs) and technology infrastructures (TIs) to increase impact. The recommendations provided serve as valuable input for advancing the RI-Industry cooperation landscape.

The results of preliminary research on the cooperation of RIs with industry show that intensive cooperation is already being developed, and landmarks view this as an integral part of their activity. There is still a need to explore in more detail what could be the optimal business model for the cooperation.

There are several examples of good practices which could be systematically documented and shared among landmarks. The same can be said when looking at the variety of services offered by some landmarks to the business community. There is no doubt that the sharing of good practices could facilitate and promote further development of the cooperation.

The ESFRI Landmarks list includes the ESRF as one of the research infrastructures that reached an advanced Implementation Phase, thanks to the EBS (Extremely Brilliant Source), upgrade complemented by the Streamline project.