INESC TEC proposes a more cohesive European strategy for research and technology infrastructures

INESC TEC has just published a position paper to address the European Commission’s public consultation on the strategic framework for Research and Technology Infrastructures (RTIs). In this document, INESC TEC puts forward several recommendations aimed at strengthening the role of RTIs in innovation and territorial cohesion.

The Institute advocates for a systemic and integrated approach that recognises these infrastructures as central means throughout the entire innovation chain: from advanced training to technological demonstration and validation.

“RTIs are not isolated assets: they are drivers of scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness, and territorial cohesion. Europe must perceive them as such – with stable governance, lifecycle funding, and more inclusive access,” the document states.

Six proposals to increase the impact of RTIs in Europe

The position paper opens by supporting the European Commission’s diagnosis of the current barriers facing RTIs – including fragmented governance and the underuse of infrastructures in less developed regions. INESC TEC outlines six key recommendations:

1. Integrated governance between Research Infrastructures (RIs) and Technology Infrastructures (TIs);
2. Sustainable funding across the entire lifecycle: from design to strategic reconfiguration;
3. Technical and organisational interoperability between different infrastructures;
4. Fairer, more transparent access mechanisms, especially for SMEs and emerging players;
5. Measures to address regional disparities and promote participation by “Widening” countries;
6. Integration of RTIs into mission-driven policies, e.g., the European Green Deal and digital transition.

The document also emphasises the risk that Europe could lose competitiveness to global powers like the U.S.A. and China, which already incorporate RTIs into their industrial and defence strategies, backed by long-term investment plans.

Commitment to the Future

INESC TEC highlights the active involvement in European initiatives like the RITIFI project, where it led mapping and strategic planning studies for RTIs. The Institute restates its commitment to supporting:

• the development of multi-level governance models;
• the definition of access and interoperability frameworks;
• the promotion of regional capacity-building and participation-expanding initiatives.

“We are ready to support the European Commission in building a more coherent, inclusive, and forward-looking strategy. RTIs are critical to strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy and accelerating the fundamental transitions that shape our collective future,” the document concludes.