Consolidation of the research infrastructure landscape – pilots for strategic coordination, synergies and simplified access pathways, by large thematic clusters of pan-European research infrastructures is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Policy contribution, impact and visibility of research infrastructures of European interest, by large thematic domain, to relevant EU policy and priority initiatives, including beyond research, at national, regional, European and global level. Improved coordination, complementarities, and where applicable, interoperability, harmonisation, integration and synergies among research infrastructures within large thematic domains and, where relevant, across domains. A European portfolio of R&I services of European interest, supported by a common front page and few single-entry point access portals, integrated or interoperable catalogues of R&I services and converging access conditions and selection procedures, strengthening the European landscape of ESFRI-prioritised infrastructures and other world-class research infrastructures by large thematic domains. Increased awareness, findability and accessibility of research infrastructures for European researchers and innovators; simplified and adapted access pathways for new needs or new communities of users (e.g. where relevant, multidisciplinary R&I, EU collaborative research projects, EU operational or deployment programmes, public authorities, and industry, including SMEs, startups and scaleups). Scope: This topic aims at equipping large thematic clusters of research infrastructures of European interest with a policy arm combined with a technical arm, to increase awareness, findability and accessibility, better matching user needs. This thematic clustering is aligned with ESFRI approach: proposals should explicitly state which ESFRI domain [1] they address (see specific conditions on procedure for ranking proposals). Proposals should foresee close collaboration across projects under this topic to ensure, where applicable, policy coordination, technical interoperability and other synergies. Building on the clusters under Horizon 2020 [2] and Horizon Europe [3] , on the development of catalogues of services, and on new access pathways and improved services such as under Horizon Europe INFRASERV [4] projects, proposals should address all of the following aspects: Strengthening the representation of the research infrastructures cluster, as a single or coordinated voice, in key EU policy developments and strategic initiatives and contribute to policies in their domain with a research infrastructure component. Coordination with cross-domains fora, such as the ERIC Forum and EIROforum should also be ensured. Strengthening coordination among research infrastructures to foster complementarities, interoperability, harmonisation, integration and synergies within the domain, and where relevant with other domains to address increasingly complex and multidisciplinary science and technology challenges. Developing, optimising and connecting catalogues of research infrastructures services of European interest. Attention is required to new users, notably researchers and innovators from widening countries and candidate countries, industry (including SMEs, startups and scaleups), early-stage career researchers, and non-expert users. Flexibility to address future needs should be considered. Developing and implementing intermediary services, user support, tools and notably AI assisted research infrastructure services navigation. When relevant, resulting data and digital services should be made accessible through EOSC. Elaborating and promoting indicators flagging the strategic relevance of specific research infrastructures services to key EU R&I priorities and initiatives, including through common or coordinated impact assessments, and possible validation mechanisms with these initiatives. Proposals should involve, not necessarily as beneficiaries, ESFRI Landmarks and Projects and/or ERICs in the domain, other research infrastructures that are international European research organisations and, where relevant, well-established networks of key European research infrastructur Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Excellent Science, Research infrastructures Keywords: ESFRI

Research infrastructures as accelerators of the integration of Ukraine in the European Research Area is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes: Strong and sustainable collaboration frameworks between Ukrainian and European research infrastructures, supporting joint research initiatives. An early phase implementation plan for the reconstruction and upgrade of Ukrainian research infrastructures, aligning with the priorities of the ERA Policy Agenda. Remote access of Ukrainian researchers and innovators to European research infrastructures, allowing them to participate in scientifically excellent projects across various fields and enhancing their integration into the ERA. Remote fellowships for researchers based in Ukraine for research activities related to scientific instrumentation and advanced methods in collaboration with European research infrastructures. Effective systems for monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of integration efforts, ensuring objectives are met and supporting continuous improvement and adaptation. Scope: The objective of the topic is the utilisation of Europe’s research infrastructure landscape to facilitate the integration of Ukraine in the European Research Area. Proposals should build on the Coordination and Support Action “assessing the state of research infrastructure in Ukraine” resulting from the 2024 topic. Moreover, they should include the provision of remote fellowships for researchers based in Ukraine to collaborate on technology development with European research infrastructures, building on the model of the EURIZON project [1] (proposals may use financial support to third parties for that purpose). Proposals should address all of the following aspects: Support the design of an early phase implementation plan of the roadmap of the development, reconstruction and reorientation of Ukraine’s RI capacity based on the 2024 Coordination and Support Action, and the recommendations of the EURIZON project. Foster collaboration and networking with Ukrainian research infrastructures, enabling joint research initiatives via remote fellowships, shared use of facilities, including possible short-term researcher exchanges, and the co-development of scientific methodologies, while supporting initiatives of European research infrastructures donating equipment to Ukrainian research institutions. Offer remote access for Ukrainian researchers to European RIs, supporting their participation in scientifically excellent projects across various fields, thereby enhancing their research capabilities and integration into the European scientific community. Identify and align investment opportunities, leveraging EU funding mechanisms to prioritise the development and reconstruction of Ukrainian research infrastructures. Proposals could consider the inclusion of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) research infrastructure offering transnational access to external users to a portfolio of 18 facilities in the nuclear and non-nuclear area. In that respect, the JRC will consider collaborating with any successful proposal and this collaboration, when relevant, should be established after the proposal’s approval. In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement. [1] EURIZON - European network for developing new horizons for RIs https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/871072 Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Excellent Science, Research infrastructures Keywords: ESFRI, Ukraine

Strengthening the international dimension of ESFRI and/or ERIC research infrastructures is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to several of the following expected outcomes: New or enhanced, effective cooperation of European research infrastructures with key international partners; Strengthened position of European research infrastructures in the global research infrastructure landscape; Increased opportunities for the development of global research infrastructures, including proposals expanding the geographical coverage of ongoing collaborations; Increased capacity to address societal challenges with a global dimension, including collaborations in areas such as environmental monitoring or health; Reinforced global competitiveness and performance of the European Research Area. Scope: This topic aims at supporting the cooperation of pan-European research infrastructures with their international (non-European) counterparts, and/or fostering the international engagement of ESFRI and ERIC research infrastructures through their involvement in global research infrastructure initiatives [1] . Proposals should describe shared objectives and governance of the collaboration, building on the criteria developed by the Group of Senior Officials on Global Research Infrastructures [2] . Proposals should pay attention to the following aspects: The long-term sustainability of joint activities; beyond the immediate results of the project, the prospects for the collaboration to be sustained should be described. Methods and governance models should be explored. Activities leading to agreements on data sharing or co-financing reciprocal activities are welcome. Opportunities (access and data sharing) available to European scientists; proposals should elaborate on the data dimension of their activities, and in which way access will be ensured over time. Fostering global interoperability and coverage (when appropriate) of data; Exchanging best practices between user communities and managers of research infrastructures as regard, for instance, harmonisation of tests, standards, reference materials, interoperability and data handling. While the main target of this topic is the cooperation between an individual pan-European infrastructure and its international counterparts in one or more third countries, proposals could also involve a set of pan-European infrastructures with their international counterparts if relevant for the chosen research field. Proposals should describe the EU benefit of any EU contribution requested by non-associated third countries, by explaining the new services or knowledge made accessible to EU researchers via the collaboration. Proposals should consider the Council Recommendation of 23 May 2024 on enhancing research security [3] and take into account its principles for responsible internationalisation. [1] ESFRI RIs PORTFOLIO https://ri-portfolio.esfri.eu/ and ERIC Landscape – Active European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs) https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-research-and-innovation/our-digital-future/european-research-infrastructures/eric/eric-landscape_en [2] https://www.gsogri.org/ [3] Council Recommendation of 23 May 2024 on enhancing research security Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Excellent Science, Research infrastructures Keywords: ESFRI

The UKRI Policy Fellowships 2025, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, offer 18-month placements for academics to co-design research with UK government and What Works Network host organizations. Awards range from £180,000 to £280,000 and support three fellowship tracks: core policy fellows, Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellows, and What Works Innovation fellows. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent research experience, be based at a UKRI-eligible UK organization, and possess relevant subject matter or methodological expertise. Government-hosted positions target early to mid-career academics, while What Works fellowships welcome all career stages. Fellows work directly with policymakers to bridge academic research and policy development on pressing national and global challenges. The application deadline is July 15, 2025.