Innovation pilots

Topic description

Specific Challenge:

Pan-European Research Infrastructures use more and more sophisticated technologies not available on the market, which require ad-hoc developments and often the use of large-scale platforms combining R&D (Research and Development), integration and validation. These platforms can also provide longer-term visibility and involvement of European industry in scientific and technological advancements and therefore ensure greater socio-economic impact.

Funding will be provided to research infrastructure networks to kick-start the implementation of a common strategy/roadmap for technological developments required for improving their services through partnership with industry. Proposals should then involve research infrastructures, industry and SMEs to promote innovation and knowledge sharing through co-creation of needed technical solutions and make use, when appropriate, of large-scale platforms combining R&D (Research and Development), integration and validation for the technological developments.

Proposals should address:

• if not already done,the identification of key techniques and trends which are crucial for future construction and upgrade of the involved Research Infrastructures and the definition of roadmaps and/or strategic agendas for their development, in close partnership with the industrial partners, especially with innovative SMEs;
• the development of the identified fundamental technologies or techniques underpinning and arising from the efficient and joint use of the involved research infrastructures, taking into due account resource efficiency and environmental (including climate-related) impacts.
• the prototyping of higher performance methodologies, protocols, and instrumentation, including the testing of components, subsystems, materials, and dedicated software, needed to upgrade the involved research infrastructures, construct their next generation, or develop new advanced applications.

As the grant will not cover the full implementation of the common strategy/roadmap for technological developments, proposals should define a sustainability plan for its further implementation. Proposals should contribute to fostering the potential for innovation of research infrastructures by reinforcing the partnership with industry, through e.g. transfer of knowledge and other dissemination activities, activities to promote the use of research infrastructures by industrial researchers, involvement of industrial associations in consortia or in advisory bodies.

Proposals may include PCP subcontracting activities as described in part E of the General Annexes of the Work Programme.

In order to exploit synergies, share results and avoid overlaps, grants awarded under this topic will be complementary between them. The respective options for complementary grants of Article 2, Article 31.6 and Article 41.4 of the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) will be applied. In addition, grants awarded under this topic should cooperate with the actions awarded under topic INFRAINNOV-03-2020 to identify and better exploit related synergies and to avoid overlaps. To this extent, proposals should foresee a dedicated task or work package and earmark appropriate resources. Proposals should also build on results from past/ongoing projects, such as AMICI, or the one funded under topic INFRAINNOV-02-2019.

This topic targets 'Advanced Communities' which have reached a high level of integration and can focus on joint research developments. On the basis of a multiannual plan drafted taking also into account the assessment and the timing of previous grants, this work programme invites proposals addressing the following three domains:

• Innovation in light source technologies
• Innovation in detector technologies for accelerators
• Innovation in accelerator technologies

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 10 million would allow this topic to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

This activity will:

• Enhance the scientific competitiveness of European Research Infrastructures in the long-term and the further development of innovative companies;
• Facilitate the creation of both large and viable markets and structuring industrial partners in a critical mass to enable European industry to respond to demands from international Research Infrastructures;
• Support the integration of research infrastructures into local, regional and global innovation systems.

Open Innovation
Innovation Procurement