MAGHRENOV deliverable 3.8 Investments opportunities report on research infrastructures

DELIVRABLE

Project Acronym: MAGHRENOV Grant Agreement number: 609453 Project Title: Convergence between EU and MAGHREB MPC innovation systems

in the field of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE) – A test-bed for fostering Euro Mediterranean Innovation Space (EMIS)

D3.8 - INVESTMENTS OPPORTUNITIES REPORT ON RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES

Version 1.0

Authors: Mouhcine BENMEZIANE (IRESEN)

Internal Reviewers: Christophe AUBRY DE MARAUMONT (KIC InnoEnergy SE) Hugo KERSCHOT (KIC IE - IS-Practice) Hélène BEN KHEMIS (ANME) Abdelhak CHAIBI (R&D Maroc)

Dissemination Level

P Public X

C Confidential, only for members of the consortium and the Commission Services

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under the grant agreement no. 609453.

D3.8 - Investments opportunities report on research infrastructures

Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................. ii

List of Figures .................................................................................................. iv

Revision History ................................................................................................ v

Executive Summary ........................................................................................... vi

Keywords ....................................................................................................... vi

1 - Introduction ................................................................................................. 7

Objectives of the Deliverable ........................................................................... 7

Structure of the Deliverable ............................................................................ 7

2 - Research infrastructures (RI) ............................................................................. 8

2.1 - What is a research infrastructure? .................................................................. 8

2.2 - What role do they play for innovation? ............................................................ 9

3 - Current Situation and Analysis of the Results Obtained ............................................. 10

3.1 - Europe ................................................................................................. 10

3.2 - Morocco................................................................................................ 10

3.3 - Tunisia ................................................................................................. 11

3.4 - Analysis ................................................................................................ 11

4 - Research infrastructures implementation programmes and opportunities ....................... 12

4.1 - European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) ............................... 12

4.2 - The Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) .................. 13

4.3 - H2020 Work Programme ............................................................................. 14

Call overview ............................................................................................. 14

Work programme......................................................................................... 15

4.4 - FARABI Network ...................................................................................... 16

4.5 - Status of investment facilities, programmes and opportunities .............................. 17

Where to get the funding? An assessment of funding opportunities for research infrastructures in Euro-Mediterranean region .......................................................................... 17

What are the priorities for RIs? An assessment of innovation strategies for European and Mediterranean countries ................................................................................ 17

5 - Principles for research infrastructure investment.................................................... 18

5.1 - Continuity of Funding ............................................................................... 18

5.2 - Holistic Funding ...................................................................................... 18

5.3 - Prioritization .......................................................................................... 19

5.4 - Excellence in research infrastructure ............................................................. 19

5.5 - Collaboration ......................................................................................... 19

5.6 - Co-investment ........................................................................................ 20

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5.7 - Evaluation and Monitoring .......................................................................... 20

6 - Recommendations for improving RIs in Europe and Maghreb countries ........................... 21

6.1 - Macro-level ........................................................................................... 21

6.2 - Meso-level ............................................................................................. 21

6.3 - Micro-level ............................................................................................ 21

7 - References ................................................................................................. 22

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List of Figures Figure 1 Location of RIs in Research Triangle .............................................................. 8

Figure 2 Research areas for RE&EE RIs in Europe ......................................................... 10

Figure 3 Research areas for RE&EE RIs in Morocco ....................................................... 10

Figure 4 Research areas for RE&EE RIs in Tunisia ........................................................ 11

Figure 5 Cooperation in research and innovation in the Mediterranean area ........................ 12

Figure 6 EIB activities by country in 2014 ................................................................. 13

Figure 7 Signatures by sector in 2014 ...................................................................... 13

Figure 8 Green Energy Park, the first Research Platform in the FARABI Network ................... 16

Figure 9 Other projects of RIs in the FARABI Network ................................................... 16

© MAGHRENOV Consortium iv Version 1.0 - 30/04/2015


Revision History

Revision Date Author Organization Description

0.1 24/04/2015 Mouhcine BENMEZIANE IRESEN Initial Draft

0.2 29/04/2015 Mouhcine BENMEZIANE IRESEN

Integrating reviewers remarks

0.3 30/04/2015 Christophe AUBRY DE

MARAUMONT KIC IE Finalization of

deliverable

0.4 30/04/2015 All reviewers Consortium Validation of

the deliverable

1.0 30/04/2015 Mouhcine BENMEZIANE IRESEN Final version

Statement of originality:

This deliverable contains original unpublished work except where clearly indicated otherwise. Acknowledgement of previously published material and of the work of others has been made through appropriate citation, quotation or both.

© MAGHRENOV Consortium v Version 1.0 - 30/04/2015


Executive Summary The present document is part of the Work Package 3’s deliverables of MAGHRENOV Project named “Knowledge and infrastructures for innovation” and of which IRESEN is the leader. This work package aims at increasing a shared knowledge on the conditions of innovation for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE) in the Euro-Mediterranean context, focusing on Maghreb to start with.

This deliverable logically arrives ahead of other MAGHRENOV project deliverables in the work package “Knowledge and Infrastructures for Innovation”, namely:

• D3.4 Catalogue of evaluated competences (KIC IE SE)

• D3.5 Prioritization of joint objectives for R&D and support to innovation (ANME)

• D3.6 List of existing facilities along with the ESFRI classification scheme (IRESEN)

• D3.7 Workshop articulating with ESFRI Agenda (IRESEN)

The results of those deliverables were used as a solid background material to assess the situation in the Euro-Mediterranean region, to address efficiently the challenges and to identify the opportunities for future investment and development of a research and innovation space.

Keywords MAGHRENOV ; Investments ; Opportunities ; Report ; Research ; Infrastructures ; Innovation ; Development ; Renewable ; Energy ; Energies ; Morocco ;Tunisia ; Europe ; Euro-Mediterranean ; R&I ; R2I ; EuroMed

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1 - Introduction In response to the rapid transformations taking place in the Mediterranean countries, the European Commission identified and confirmed the EU’s neighbourhood countries as a key priority and developed a new strategy for the Mediterranean region. Research and innovation (R&I) offer significant opportunities for Mediterranean countries to develop and exploit their assets for the benefit of their economies and of their peoples, as drivers of economic and social development. Increased knowledge and R&I are keys to the successful deployment of specific products, processes, technologies and concepts which, in turn, may deliver economic, environmental and social benefits on a wider scale.

The development of a Common Knowledge and Infrastructure for Innovation is a shared aim for both Europe and Mediterranean partner countries (MPC). In this spirit, the MAGHRENOV project, through its Work Package 3 “Knowledge and Infrastructures for Innovation”, and which this deliverable is part off, tries to answers those challenges and give tools to decision makers by highlighting the opportunities for investment as an answer to one of the recommendation made during the Euro-Mediterranean conference on research infrastructures in 2012:

It is imperative that a coordinated policy of research infrastructures and demonstrator projects should be established for the Mediterranean area in

order to adapt general approaches (SET Plan EIIs, ESFRI Energy Roadmap) to its peculiarities and to optimize the corresponding investments to be realized in

the area.

Objectives of the Deliverable

The objective of the deliverable D3.8 is to highlights the opportunities for future investment and development of a Euro-Mediterranean research and innovation space, focusing on research infrastructures.

Also this document will represent a decision making tool which can be used to develop new R&D infrastructures strategies.

Structure of the Deliverable

After defining what a Research Infrastructure (RI) (2) is, this report will give the picture of the current situation based on the findings of previous activities and their analysis (3). Thus, the report will assess the different investments facilities and programmes existing which could represent relevant funding opportunities (4) to develop further the Euro-Mediterranean Research Infrastructures in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE). These RI investment should be based and follow a certain number of principle in order for them to be the most cost effective as possible. The report will therefore identify those principle in a list (5) which is destined to be used by decision makers and investors when developing new RI projects. Finally, this report will provide a set of recommendations (6) for decision makers for improving RI in the Euro-Mediterranean region in the perspective of the creation of a true Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Space (EMIS).

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2 - Research infrastructures (RI)

2.1 - What is a research infrastructure?

Research infrastructures are facilities, resources and services that are used by the research communities to conduct research and foster innovation in their fields. Where relevant, they may be used beyond research, e.g. for education or public services. They include:

• Major scientific equipment (or sets of instruments); • Knowledge-based resources such as collections, archives or scientific data; • E-Infrastructures, such as data and computing systems and communication networks; • And any other infrastructure of a unique nature essential to achieve excellence in research

and innovation.

Such infrastructures may be 'single-sited', ‘virtual’ or 'distributed'.

Research infrastructures play an increasing role in the advancement of knowledge and technology and their exploitation. By offering high quality research services to users from different countries, by attracting young people to science and by networking facilities, research infrastructures help structuring the scientific community and play a key role in the construction of an efficient research and innovation environment. Because of their ability to assemble a ‘critical mass’ of people, knowledge and investment, they contribute to national and regional economic development. Research infrastructures are also key in helping the region lead a global movement towards open, interconnected, data-driven and computer-intensive science and engineering. E-Infrastructures will make every researcher digital, increasing creativity and efficiency of research and bridging the divide between developed and less developed regions.

Figure 1 Location of RIs in Research Triangle

Research

Innovation

Research Infrastruct

ures

Education



2.2 - What role do they play for innovation?

Just as public infrastructures form the substrate of civil society, research infrastructures are the backbone of scientific communities. Research infrastructures have been a well-established concept in the physical sciences for a long time. More recently, the concept of openly accessible infrastructures has spread into all disciplines of science, including life, environmental, social sciences and the humanities. This spread has happened not least under the influence of interdisciplinary users and the increasing importance of e-Science. Research infrastructures therefore provide research opportunities and services to researchers in many areas. This is also reflected in the close links between several of the topics of Research Infrastructures and certain Focus Areas.

The fostering of innovation potential of research infrastructures can be made for example by reinforcing partnerships with industry, transfer of knowledge and other dissemination activities, use of research infrastructures by industrial researchers, and involvement of industrial associations in consortia or in advisory bodies. Research Infrastructure activities also contribute to widening participation to the program by supporting the development of Regional Partner Facilities in ESFRI projects and integrating activities. The use of Euro-Mediterranean Structural and Investment Funds to build capacities and infrastructures at national and regional level in line with the relevant smart specialization strategy is encouraged.



3 - Current Situation and Analysis of the Results Obtained

In the framework of MAGHRENOV project a study were done within the deliverable D3.6 to identify and map the existing research infrastructures in Europe, Morocco and Tunisia in the field of Renewable energies and Energy efficiency1.

The results of the study came as follow:

3.1 - Europe

The European RIs is very rich and dynamic into a global approach, which aims to create complementarity between all the existing RIs in European area. The macro-level strategy which has been adopted by Europe allows identifying areas of research needs, areas of RIs needs, existing RIs’ categories and needs. Consequently in a Meso-level, national strategies were developed combining European and national needs in order to implement shared and qualified RIs for European Area.

The European model is very important to follow up especially for the Maghreb area where RIs are under development.

3.2 - Morocco

There is 113 RIs in Morocco in the field of RE&EE all around the country with more than 87 projects and laboratories. Universities, engineering schools and institutions are working on new R&D projects, implementing new research centres, developing new research platforms, creating new data bases and virtual or single sited competence networks in order to participate to a real development of renewable energies & energy efficiency in the country.

This dynamic can be more efficient if the implementation of all RIs is happening into a national strategy, which can optimize the existing and adopt the offer to real needs.

1 (IRESEN, 2014)

Solar PV42%

Solar Thermal

7%Wind10%

Biomass17%

Grid12%

Marine12%

Solar PV38%

Solar Thermal

26%

Wind6%

Biomass3%

Grid10%

Energy Efficiency

17%

Figure 2 Research areas for RE&EE RIs in Europe

Figure 3 Research areas for RE&EE RIs in Morocco



3.3 - Tunisia

The results of the Tunisian case study show that there is similarity between Maghreb countries. Indeed, RIs is based especially on projects and laboratories which generate the creation of experts’ networks and teams which work on research activities but at a Micro-level.

3.4 - Analysis

The development of research in a country or a specific area can’t be done without a qualified and structured Research Infrastructures (RIs). These RIs must be developed through a global or national strategy that should take into consideration needs of the country, the development’s objectives for specific areas and the existing RIs. The combination of all these elements is the main solution to develop qualified RIs.

The European model in implementing RIs represents the future of RIs’ situation in Maghreb and should be followed in order to adapt RIs offers to the needs and to optimize funding. This model can be implemented through three levels:

1 - Macro-level: represents national level and gives information about development strategies, research areas priorities, research needs and also the researcher’s needs.

2 - Meso-level: can be in a regional level. This level can provide us with information about the existing RIs and the existing areas of expertise.

3 - Micro-level: can be cities, universities, research centres. This level informs us about the topics and research activities which are developed in single sited laboratories specifying what kind of scientific equipment are used.

Renewable

Energies55%

Solar PV + Thermal

36%

Bio Energies

9%

Figure 4 Research areas for RE&EE RIs in Tunisia



4 - Research infrastructures implementation programmes and opportunities

4.1 - European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)

ESFRI, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, is a strategic instrument to develop the scientific integration of Europe and to strengthen its international outreach. The competitive and open access to high quality Research Infrastructures supports and benchmarks the quality of the activities of European scientists, and attracts the best researchers from around the world.

The mission of ESFRI is to support a coherent and strategy-led approach to policy-making on research infrastructures in Europe, and to facilitate multilateral initiatives leading to the better use and development of research infrastructures, at EU and international level2.

The conclusions on the roadmap implementation of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures emphasize the need for renewing and adapting the mandate of the ESFRI to adequately address the ever emerging societal challenges as well as the need to ensure the follow-up of implementation of already on-going ESFRI projects. These conclusions stem from the report adopted by the ESFRI’s Board in April 2014.

The policy debate on the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in research and innovation was based on the constructive outcome of the informal Council meeting organized by the Hellenic Presidency in Athens, on May 13th 2014. That meeting demonstrated that the technical work developed by the PRIMA initiative is mature enough, which can allow proceeding with the preparation of a dedicated program. The meeting also marked strong and wide political support for a long-term structured cooperation in research and innovation in the Mediterranean area on equal footing, that is, in line with the principles of co-ownership, mutual interest and shared benefits, building on the multiple bilateral and multilateral research and innovation activities in the region. There was also support regarding the immediate next steps. It was argued that time is ripe for Member States to consolidate all findings and to prepare a comprehensive proposal for a dedicated program. The Italian Presidency indicated its strong political will to organize the next steps. Moreover, this process built on previous initiatives such as the informal Council meeting during the Cypriot Presidency, resulting in the Limassol Declaration in July 2012 and the Barcelona Conference in April 20123.

2 (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), 2014) 3 (Hellenic Republic, 2014)

Figure 5 Cooperation in research and innovation in the Mediterranean area



4.2 - The Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP)

The overall objective of the FEMIP is to foster private sector development and promote better understanding of the Mediterranean region through operational studies, private equity investments and capacity building operations supporting democratic transformation.

In the Mediterranean partner countries, investors are often unwilling to finance studies and advisory services in support of projects or major initiatives, especially for upstream preparation of innovative operations. The FEMIP Trust Fund (FTF) aims to address this financing gap. It supports operations which foster a business-friendly environment and which contribute to the diversification of financial instruments at the disposal of the private sector.

The FTF is aligned with the priorities of the EIB for the Mediterranean region. FTF operations support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the financial sector; infrastructure, focusing mainly on transport and energy; environment, with a particular focus on climate action and water; and human capital, research and innovation.

In each of these sectors, the FTF considers the kind of changes it would be best suited to support, defines expected outcomes and establishes a methodology for contributing to those outcomes. This results-driven approach ensures that the FTF provides maximum value added for the region4.

4 (EIB FEMIP, 2014)

34%

27%

21%

9%

6% 2%1%

Tunisia Morocco Egypt Israel

Lebanon Regional Jordan

55%

18%

9%

8%

5%4%1%

Energy

SME financing

Transport

Urban development

Water, sewerage and solid waste

Education

Financial sector

Figure 6 EIB activities by country in 2014

Figure 7 Signatures by sector in 2014



4.3 - H2020 Work Programme

Research Infrastructures can be the principal lynchpin in bringing together researchers with the aim of forming meaningful impactful alliances. The Horizon 2020 Research Infrastructures programme creates opportunities for researchers and scientists to collaborate across disciplines and countries for the betterment of Europe and beyond. They encompass facilities, resources and services that are used by research communities to conduct research and foster innovation in their fields. The principal objective of the action therefore is to endow Europe with world-class research infrastructures which are accessible to all researchers in Europe and beyond and fully exploit their potential for scientific advance and innovation5.

Call overview

The 2014/2015 Research Infrastructures work programme is open and consists of four general programmatic areas. The total budget for this work programme is €554.5 million.

INFRA-DEV 2014/2015 Budget: €199 million

This programmatic area involves the development of new world-class research infrastructures. The primary objectives of INFRADEV are to facilitate and support the implementation, long-term sustainability and efficient operation of the research infrastructures identified by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), as well as other world-class research infrastructures. The call invites the following:

- Design studies; - ESFRI projects in the preparatory phase; - ESFRI projects in the implementation and operation phase; - Clusters for technological development including ESFRI projects and others of Pan-

European Interest.

INFRA-IA 2014/2015 Budget: €140 million

INFRAIA aims to open national and regional research infrastructures to all European researchers from both academia and industry and to ensure their optimal use and joint development. It includes opportunities for national and regional research infrastructures to participate in integrated activities such as networking, transnational access and joint research activities. 41 topics have been identified for starting and advanced communities in seven subject domains.

5 (European Commission, 2014) © MAGHRENOV Consortium 14 Version 1.0 - 30/04/2015


E-INFRA 2014/2015 Budget: €177 million

E-Infrastructures foster the emergence of e-Science, i.e. new working methods based on the shared use of ICT tools and resources across different disciplines and technology domains. Furthermore, e-infrastructures enable the circulation of knowledge online in Europe and therefore constitute an essential building block for the European Research Area. EINFRA includes support for:

- Big data; - Open access; - Research data alliance; - High-performance computing; - Centres of excellence; - Network of HPC competence centres for SMEs; - Provision of core services; - GEANT; - Virtual research environments.

INFRA-SUPP 2014/2015 Budget: €38,5 million

The aim of INFRASUPP is to foster the innovation potential and to develop the human resources of research infrastructures, especially in areas that suffer from shortages in supply or where new skills and professions need to emerge. The call will also aim to reinforce policy and international cooperation of European research infrastructures. INFRASUPP covers :

- Innovation support measures; - Procurement pilot for scientific instrumentation; - Strengthening human capital; - New professions and skills for e-infrastructures; - Policy measures; - International cooperation; - e-infrastructure policy development; - Network of National Contact Points.

Work programme

Research infrastructures is an area in which Horizon 2020 could potentially be supplemented by money from the Structural Funds, allocated to regions to promote economic developments. Applicants should definitely find out if the objectives of a particular infrastructure match with the priorities outlined in their regions’ innovation strategy—since the Structural funds are expected to invest a further €90bn in R&I over the next seven years6.

More information can be found in the 2014/2015 work programme, which constitutes the first tranche of funding for Research Infrastructures under Horizon 2020.

Link: Horizon 2020 - Work Programme 2014/2015 European research infrastructures (including e-Infrastructures)

6 (Greenhalgh & Vesper, 2014) © MAGHRENOV Consortium 15 Version 1.0 - 30/04/2015

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/main/h2020-wp1415-infrastructures_en.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/main/h2020-wp1415-infrastructures_en.pdf


4.4 - FARABI Network

One of the mission of the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN) in Morocco is the development of the research infrastructures in the kingdom in renewable energy sector. In this framework, IRESEN started by building the Green Energy Park, the first platform in Africa, that will allow the creation of synergies and sharing of infrastructure between several Moroccan research institutions to create a critical mass and achieve excellence, and also the acquisition of knowledge and skills by the various partners and the Moroccan industrial universities in the field of renewable energies generally and solar energy specifically.

This infrastructure is included in a more ambitious IRESEN project which is the FARABI network of research infrastructures in renewable energies. The main characteristics of the FRABI network are:

• Development of an applied R&D network internationally renowned around Moroccan universities and industrials,

• Creation of excellence and critical mass, • Synergies between universities and industry around R&D projects, • Development of the know-how in the platforms, • Innovation through knowledge and know-how.

The next Research Platform to be built by IRESEN in the framework of the FARABI Network is the Green Building Park, a research infrastructure dedicated to green building and energy efficiency.

Figure 8 Green Energy Park, the first Research Platform in the FARABI Network

Figure 9 Other projects of RIs in the FARABI Network



4.5 - Status of investment facilities, programmes and opportunities

Where to get the funding? An assessment of funding opportunities for research infrastructures in Euro-Mediterranean region

Except the ones sited in this section, funding opportunities dedicated to implementation of research infrastructures are quit limited. Unfortunately, no other institutions, like the IMF or the Wold Bank, or other EU member states institutions have such investment opportunities which rises the need to create new incentives for the implementation of research and innovation infrastructures.

What are the priorities for RIs? An assessment of innovation strategies for European and Mediterranean countries

Europe has a long-standing tradition of excellence in research and innovation and European teams continue to lead the progress in many fields of science and technology. However, Europe’s centres of excellence often fail to reach critical mass due to the absence of adequate networking and cooperation. Therefore, there is a need to bring resources together, and widen the partnership with Mediterranean countries to build a research and innovation area equivalent to the region’s common expectations and needs.

Adequate research infrastructures are essential in promoting technological innovation, as they provide the conditions and critical mass required to carry out cutting-edge research. New scientific and technical challenges call for increased performance of research facilities and better knowledge exchange between different disciplines. This increase in capacity and performance can, in part, be achieved through better coordination of existing facilities and the development of simple operational mechanisms. In addition, funding the design and construction of new infrastructures affects the direction of research for many years afterwards.

The example of FARABI network in Morocco is really interesting in the way that it analyses the needs of researches and universities at the micro level, and translating those needs into real infrastructures across the renewable energy domains. This kind of analysis is highly encouraged to be implemented in a more wide range (Euro-Mediterranean).



5 - Principles for research infrastructure investment

5.1 - Continuity of Funding

Research infrastructure funding programs should be ongoing and predictable, to achieve optimal use of funds.

Infrastructure that continues to be a priority should be able to access funding for ongoing operations.

Guiding considerations

Ongoing and predictable funding programs support a more strategic, collaborative and planned approach to research infrastructure investment.

Ongoing operational funding for priority national and landmark research infrastructure assists in maximizing the benefit from the original investment.

5.2 - Holistic Funding

Funding required to support research infrastructure will vary between elements, including capital costs, governance, skilled technical support staff and operations and maintenance. Support should be available to cover these key elements.

Funding programs should allow some funding for project development costs, either for a facilitation-based process or for project development and scoping activities.


The ability to invest in human capital and operating costs results in superior service delivery and more efficient, productive and viable research infrastructure facilities.

Funding for specialist staff assists in developing and maintaining the highly-skilled work-force required for the efficient operation of sophisticated facilities.

Rigorous, consultative project planning is a key input to developing excellent research infrastructure facilities, particularly at the national and landmark scale.



5.3 - Prioritization

Any proposed research infrastructure investment should align with and support Euro-Mediterranean’s research, innovation and infrastructure priorities.

Prioritization of investment in research infrastructure is necessary to ensure appropriate, effective and efficient investment; to support strategic decision-making; and to ensure European and Mediterranean countries achieves the maximum outcome for the money invested.

Processes for funding research infrastructure should be transparent, provide effective use of funds and clearly target intended outcomes.


With finite resources, there is a need to choose where to target the investments in research infrastructure.

Europe and Mediterranean countries needs to consider their priorities in both a regional and an international context.

Transparent processes to determine priorities will lead to better informed and more widely supported outcomes.

5.4 - Excellence in research infrastructure

Proposals for investment in all scales of research infrastructure should be evaluated on the basis of their ability to create excellent infrastructure.

Governance structures should be robust and fit for purpose to ensure the delivery of excellence in research infrastructure.


Excellence in research infrastructure is essential to ensuring the Euro-Mediterranean innovation space is able to continue to compete internationally and contributes to a strong innovation system.

5.5 - Collaboration

Funding should favour investments that demonstrate collaborative approaches for the creation and development of research infrastructure and that foster and facilitate a collaborative research culture.


Collaboration is a key driver of innovation and is critical to ensuring the research community can deliver the outcomes Euro-Mediterranean needs.

There are often economic and efficiency benefits from taking a collaborative approach to establishing and operating research infrastructure.



5.6 - Co-investment

Co-investment in research infrastructure is desirable as it demonstrates a commitment by the investing party/ies to the project. Any program requirements for co-investment should be flexible to leverage maximum support.


Flexibility and transparency in co-investment requirements can lead to greater overall leverage and improves the ability of European and Mediterranean countries to coordinate support for research infrastructures.

Opportunities for industry co-investment in research infrastructure facilities should be clear and encouraged as a basis for closer research collaboration.

5.7 - Evaluation and Monitoring

Research infrastructure funding programs should incorporate procedures for regular and rigorous monitoring and evaluation to ensure the effective use the funds.


Evaluation and monitoring is essential to determine whether the research infrastructure has delivered its desired outcomes and achieved its objectives over the short and medium term, as well as over its whole life-cycle.

Consideration of whether the research infrastructure continues to be a regional priority is assisted through rigorous evaluation.



6 - Recommendations for improving RIs in Europe and Maghreb countries

Investment in innovation and research drives productivity. Excellent research infrastructure, addressing the adequate priority areas, is necessary to deliver high-quality research and innovation outcomes, to enable Euro-Mediterranean region to be globally competitive. The principles identified in this report will ensure that the approaches used to plan, fund and develop research infrastructure deliver the maximum contribution to economic development, social wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

The recommendations raised in this report can be summarized as follow:

6.1 - Macro-level

Adoption of national or supranational Research Infrastructures strategies;

Creation of a virtual network between countries, starting with Morocco, Tunisia and Europe to enhance transnational cooperation;

Creation of incentives and funding facilities dedicated to Research Infrastructures implementation in the Euro-Mediterranean region;

6.2 - Meso-level

Mapping of all national or subnational Research Infrastructures;

Adoption of a national/subnational Research Infrastructure strategy to implement the upper Macro-level strategy.

Structure the Research Infrastructures and the sharing networks at the Meso-level;

Create a virtual platform of collaboration for Research Infrastructures to create a strong network of micro-level RIs across the Euro-Med region and interconnect it with the Macro-level virtual network;

6.3 - Micro-level

Specialization of the Research Infrastructure at the micro-level according to the Macro-level and Meso-level strategies.

Create a systematic/automatic reporting tool to identify and keep track of the newly created Research Infrastructures to avoid overlapping of RIs at the micro-level.



7 - References Austria, N. R. (2014). Strategic framework for research infrastructure investment. Sydney.

AYACHE, C., & BRACH, J. (2012). Report on the Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Research and Innovation. Barcelona: European Commission.

EIB FEMIP. (2014). FEMIP in 2014 – an overview. Retrieved from European Investment Bank (EIB): http://www.eib.org/projects/regions/med/about/

European Commission. (2014, July 22). Horizon 2020 - Work Programme - European research infrastructures. Retrieved from EC.Europa.EU: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2014_2015/main/h2020-wp1415-infrastructures_en.pdf

European Investment Bank (EIB). (2014). FEMIP Trust Fund (FTF) - Strategic Orientations & Operational Plan 2014-2020. European Investment Bank (EIB).

European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). (2010). Roadmap - Strategy Report on Research Infrastructures. ESFRI.

European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). (2014, October 24). ESFRI. Retrieved from EC.Europa.EU: http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/index_en.cfm?pg=esfri

Greenhalgh, L., & Vesper, I. (2014). Horizon 2020 Work Programme Summaries. Retrieved from Research Blogs: http://exquisitelife.researchresearch.com/exquisite_life/horizon-2020-work-programme-summaries.html#RI

Hellenic Republic. (2014, May 26). Competitiveness Council. Retrieved from General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT): http://www.gsrt.gr/central.aspx?sId=123I485I1251I323I506848&olID=829&neID=589&neTa=23_885_1&ncID=0&neHC=0&tbid=0&lrID=2&oldUIID=aI829I0I123I485I1251I0I2&actionID=load

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IRESEN. (2014, September 9). D3.6 - List of existing facilities along with the ESFRI classification. Retrieved from MAGHRENOV.eu: http://maghrenov.eu/file/download/5135/D3.6+List+of+existing+facilities+along+with+the+ESFRI+classification.pdf

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MAGHRENOV deliverable 3.8 Investments opportunities report on research infrastructures

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