Call for Proposals: Early Phase Implementation of ESFRI Projects

Deadline: 9-Mar-23

The European Commission (EC) is seeking proposals for its Early phase implementation of ESFRI Projects which entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2018.

Scope

• This topic targets the research infrastructure projects which entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2018, due to their scientific excellence and organisational maturity as well as to their strategic importance for the European Research Area and the structuring of the European research infrastructure ecosystem.
• Although these ESFRI Projects have received EU funding for their preparatory phase and initial commitment from Member States/Associated Countries, the early stages of the research infrastructure life cycle are particularly challenging, also considering additional difficulties linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current energy crisis. Past monitoring exercises on ESFRI infrastructures highlighted recurrent bottlenecks hampering their full implementation and start of operation phase. Building on such experiences, proposals are expected to identify and address the most critical issues that could prevent or delay the entering of these ESFRI Projects into the implementation phase.

Funding Information

The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for: 

• public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and 
• cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).

Expected Outcomes

Project results are expected to contribute to several of the following expected outcomes:

• enhanced ERA excellence and attractiveness through the availability of additional capacities;
• consistent and well-structured research infrastructures ecosystem in Europe;
• solid Member States/Associated Country engagement in pan-European research infrastructures, leading to their full implementation;
• long-term perspective for investments in research infrastructures;
• synergies and complementarities between new and existing research infrastructures, including technology infrastructures and infrastructures financed by ERDF.

Eligibility Criteria

• To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
• To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions,
  • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States,
  • countries associated to Horizon Europe;
  • the following low- and middle-income countries.

For more information, visit European Commission.