ESFRI Positon Paper on the European Innovation Act (EIA)

The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) recognizes the  pivotal role that the continuous ecosystem formed by Research and Technology  Infrastructures (RIs/TIs) play in driving innovation, fostering entrepreneurial growth, and enhancing Europe’s competiveness. Moreover, RIs/TIs constitute a powerful  resource for industry, a prerequisite for collaboration between industry and  academia.

Through a range of publications, ESFRI has highlighted its efforts to foster greater industry involvement in RIs, focusing particularly on enhancing access to RIs. Initiatives such as the ESFRI Report on Access to Research Infrastructures and Charter on Access to RIs highlighted the marked willingness to open up RIs to, among others, industry users. The report proposed several recommendations like promote technological  transfers, co-development initiatives, and broader collaborations with industry and SMEs. Furthermore, the ESFRI report on Cooperation of ESFRI RIs with Industry, through surveys conducted with industry, identified lack of financial resources, lack of staff in the company side and legal issues (e.g. IPR) as the main barriers to cooperation with RIs.

This position paper outlines ESFRI’s views on key aspects of the EIA, focusing on ensuring that the opportunities that European RIs present for the European competiveness and technology development are adequately reflected in the EIA.