Consolidation of the research infrastructure landscape – development of complementarities, synergies and/or integration between a set of pan-European research infrastructures

Overview

Supports the development of complementarities, synergies, or integration between pan-European research infrastructures (RIs) to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and alignment with EU policy priorities. Targets consortia involving ESFRI Landmarks, ERICs, or other RIs of European interest.

Who Can Apply

Consortia comprising at least one ESFRI Landmark or European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). Other eligible participants include legal entities hosting RIs in lead countries or distributed ERICs. Open to entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and select non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific funding provisions.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: 40,000,000 EUR
• Funding form: Lump sum
• Total budget: Not specified

What Is Funded

• Development of complementarities (e.g., service level agreements for shared tools/services) to prevent duplication and improve efficiency.
• Synergies to address complex research challenges and EU priorities, including sustainable integration of services/resources (e.g., common horizontal or joint scientific services).
• Feasibility studies or planning for merging infrastructures, including governance, legal, and operational frameworks.
• Joint staff skill development, including exchange programs among participating RIs.
• Pilots for service/resource integration where relevant.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

No explicit Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range specified. Proposals must demonstrate the operational or strategic maturity of the involved RIs (e.g., ESFRI Landmarks or ERICs) and justify the rationale for consolidation.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2027-03-08
• Deadline: 2027-06-14T22:00:00Z

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
• Evaluation follows standard Horizon Europe criteria (Annex D) and processes (Annex F).

Post-Award Obligations

Not explicitly stated beyond standard Horizon Europe reporting requirements (e.g., financial and operational reporting under lump sum agreements).

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries, and select non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific funding provisions (see Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes).
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Proposals must explicitly identify the ESFRI Landmark(s) or ERIC(s) involved and the RIs they operate.
• Synergies with previous or current EU grants under the Horizon Europe research infrastructures work programme must be explained.
• For distributed ERICs, the ERIC itself must be the beneficiary. For non-ERIC ESFRI Landmarks, the legal entity hosting the infrastructure in the lead country must participate.