Europe’s successful research and technology infrastructures (RTIs) ecosystems must be built on: excellence; distinctive infrastructure; clear leadership and ownership; strong user and industry orientation; visible value creation; lifecycle funding and sustainable business models; ecosystem-based collaboration; the orchestrating role of cities and regions; digital interoperability; and talent development combined with multi-level governance.
During a stakeholder consultation organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), rapporteur Markku Markkula outlined ten critical success factors for strengthening Europe’s research and technology infrastructures (RTIs), positioning them as central drivers of competitiveness, innovation, and societal transformation.
Addressing the consultation meeting, Markku Markkula, Vice-President of the CoR and member of Espoo city council said:“RTIs should not remain background assets. They must become active engines of Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and capacity to solve complex societal challenges.”
The consultation forms part of the CoR’s work on its opinion on the European Commission’s new Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures. Led by rapporteur Markku Markkula (FI/EPP), member of the SEDEC Commission, the opinion aims to ensure that the EU strategy becomes actionable at regional and local levels.
The European Commission’s strategy sets out an integrated vision to strengthen Europe’s scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness, and territorial cohesion. It positions RTIs as key enablers of innovation ecosystems, as well as of the digital and green transitions and Europe’s global technological leadership. Proposed measures include a harmonised Charter of Access, new blended financing models, and enhanced skills development through instruments such as micro-credentials.
The CoR draft opinion aims ot emphasise the importance of place-based innovation, regional smart specialisation, and improved access to infrastructures for SMEs, universities, and civic actors. It also highlights the role of RTIs in accelerating EU Missions, strengthening talent development, and leveraging private investment.
The stakeholder consultation provided an opportunity for experts, policymakers, and practitioners to contribute practical insights, helping to refine the drafting of the opinion ahead of discussions in the SEDEC Commission and its final adoption later this year.