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The European Union called for evidence and opinions related to the preparation of the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures.
Research infrastructures provide facilities, services and resources for researchers and innovators to conduct cutting-edge research, develop innovative technology and foster innovation. Technology infrastructures provide the facilities, capabilities and resources required to develop, test, upscale and validate technology, accelerating innovations towards societal/market adoption. Europe’s world-class ecosystem of research and technology infrastructures is a major strategic asset underpinning scientific and technological excellence and industrial competitiveness.
The European Research Area (ERA) benefits from a rich landscape of pan-European research infrastructures as prioritised by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). However, despite these prioritisation and coordination efforts since the early 2000s, the sustainability of these infrastructures remains a challenge, as does keeping the EU’s leading position vis-à-vis our competitors.
On behalf of POLICY ANSWERS and the Western Balkans Info Hub, our colleague Sanja Damjanovic (GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH and EU Horizon Europe POLICY ANSWERS Project) provided feedback and input:
European strategy on research and technology infrastructures
The Western Balkans (WB) represent a region with valuable human capital and scientific talent, yet their potential remains underutilised. Limited national resources and institutional capacity continue to constrain the development of modern, technology-driven research infrastructures. As the region increasingly aligns with EU priorities – such as digitalisation, green transition, health, and innovation there is a pressing need for structured and sustained support. The forthcoming European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures should include dedicated measures for the WB, focusing on technology-oriented infrastructures as key drivers of economic development and regional cohesion. Such support is also essential to counter the persistent brain drain and boost the regions contribution to European competitiveness. To this end, the European Commission could consider the following actions: Prioritise investments within the EU New Growth Plan for the WB in developing and upgrading research and technology infrastructures aligned with key EU priorities such as the digital and green transitions, health, deep tech, and advanced manufacturing. Support the development of regional research infrastructure roadmaps, aligned with Smart Specialisation Strategies and linked to the ESFRI framework, to guide strategic planning and investment prioritisation. Provide technical assistance to help WB institutions prepare competitive proposals, conduct feasibility studies, and develop sustainable governance and business models essential for EU accession, including provisions in accession treaties for financial support of innovation infrastructures. Promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) by incentivising co-investment from industry and collaboration between academia, business, and public authorities. The EC can support this through dedicated technical assistance, enabling regulatory frameworks, and appropriate EU-level financial and policy instruments to de-risk private investment. Facilitate the integration of WB institutions into EU research infrastructure networks through pilot access schemes and twinning, including capacity-building in inter-sectoral approaches (procurement, investment, financing). Encourage governments in the region to commit to co-funding and the long-term sustainability of research and technology infrastructures through budgetary planning, inter-ministerial coordination, and active participation in EU-supported policy dialogue mechanisms. Support flagship, ready-to-implement projects of pan-European relevance -such as SEEIIST (South East European International Institute for Sustainable Technologies www.seeiist.eu) through competitive funds and co-financing for preparatory phase. The EC could play a catalytic role by ensuring visibility and embedding such initiatives into the broader EU infrastructure ecosystem to enhance European competitiveness. Establish a targeted EU intervention mechanism for large-scale, pan-European research and technology infrastructures ready for construction but stalled by weak national commitment or limited political momentum. This mechanism could include bridging finance, strategic co-financing, and political facilitation to prevent the loss of high-potential projects due to short-term political or financial constraints. The EC could also play a coordinating and mediating role among Member States and candidate countries to secure joint ownership and sustained investment. Establish a monitoring framework to track progress, governance, and socio-economic impact of EU-supported infrastructures in the WB. The Western Balkans need to be an integral part of European competitiveness efforts, with full inclusion of the region in all relevant European actions and financing schemes. This can foster greater inclusiveness and unlock the regions innovation potential, contributing to a more cohesive Europe that fully embraces the EU enlargement countries.