For all areas: research infrastructures, their stakeholders and funders have more robust knowledge to develop strategies, coordinate and align future actions in support of an effective ecosystem of cutting-edge European research infrastructures. Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes for one of the areas:

Area 1: Strengthening research infrastructures investment plans and diversifying funding streams

• Research infrastructure managers benefit from an overview of funding sources at national, regional and EU level.
• Research infrastructure managers and funders are better prepared to develop synergies among complementary funding instruments that fit their specific needs and objectives.
• Funders have a better picture of the financial impact of the priorities and strategies around research infrastructures, covering both day-to-day operations and long-term investments.

Area 2: Preparatory action to explore a more integrated and sustainable scheme for access to research infrastructures

• Proposal for a new EU access scheme addressed to Research Infrastructure stakeholders (research infrastructures funders, research infrastructures managers, research infrastructures user communities), ensuring effective, flexible and seamless access to world-class scientific services and resources in all science and technology fields, accommodating the diverse nature of research infrastructures and their evolving needs, and overcoming the and disruptive effects of an approach based on short-term projects.
• Analysis of how research infrastructures user communities, including from Widening countries, will benefit from a new EU access scheme that enable wider, simplified and more efficient access so as to boost breakthrough and leading-edge research.
• Better understanding by research infrastructure stakeholders of the governance options, funding and implementation aspects of a future access scheme.

Area 3: Framework for joint research infrastructure technology developments

• Research infrastructures benefit from a more stable framework for joint technology developments avoiding duplication, promoting pooling of resources and appropriate support mechanism.
• Research infrastructure innovation ecosystems are further developed, and their overlaps are identified. They underpin the technology developments needed by research infrastructures including the implementation of research infrastructure technology roadmaps.
• A virtuous circle for early involvement of industry, including SMEs, and development or update of joint research infrastructure technology roadmaps is created.
• Mechanisms to ensure the openness of research infrastructure technology innovation ecosystems, which must be able to integrate new EU players.