MERIL- Mapping of the European Research Infrastructure Landscape

About the Project

In July 2009 the European Commission issued a Call under FP7 aimed at up-dating the European Portal on Research Infrastructures’ Services launched in 2007. ESF, with the support of key stakeholders, submitted a proposal to the European Commission in December 2009. Further to negotiations finalised in August 2010, the MERIL grant agreement, for a 2-year contract amounting to 800 k€, has been signed with an official project start date of 1 October 2010.

The MERIL project (Mapping of the European Research Infrastructure Landscape) aims to achieve this comprehensive inventory of research infrastructures of European relevance and make the information publicly available through an interactive online portal. It is funded by the European Commission under Framework Programme 7 - Contract # 262159 and is being coordinated by the ESF.

The stakeholders at the origin of the MERIL project are the scientific community, EUROHORCs, ESF, European Commission, ESFRI, European Association of National Research Facilities (ERF), EIROforum, and Ministries. Most of these are represented in MERIL’s governance through its Steering Committee. At the operational level, the scientific committees of the ESF have nominated experts to represent their scientific domains in the MERIL Science Advisory Board. Support from the scientific units at the ESF is provided in order to ensure coherence and liaison with the project.

Background

Research excellence requires excellent research infrastructures which not only support research but also lead its development into new directions and create an attractive environment for world-class researchers. Research Infrastructures which promote research, education and innovation are integral. They are the engine that drives the development of research skills and knowledge to support EU competitiveness.

In the report ‘EUROHORCs and ESF Vision on a Globally Competitive ERA and their Road Map for Actions’ (2009), the European Science Foundation (ESF) and the European Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCs) highlight the need to develop shared funding and exploitation of research infrastructures. In January 2010, the ESF launched a Member Organisation Forum to address this issue among its members and other key players in Europe. The importance of Research Infrastructures as a corner stone of the European Research Area has once more been endorsed in the ‘Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative Innovation Union’ communication of the European Commission (2010). The European scientific community and policy makers would therefore benefit from a comprehensive inventory of the research infrastructures in Europe.

The MERIL project is supported by the European Commission under Framework Programme 7 - Contract # 262159.