ECIU offers researchers streamlined access to shared research infrastructures

ECIU offers researchers streamlined access to shared research infrastructures

ECIU is strengthening its collaboration through a new initiative on shared research infrastructures, offering researchers streamlined access to facilities, laboratories and specialised equipment across all member universities. Researchers can now explore what is available across the ECIU and connect directly with peers to gain access.

From idea to action

The initiative builds on strong collaborations among the ECIU Vice Presidents for Research (VPR) . The VPR identified a clear opportunity: better use of the networks collective research capacity and a valuable incentive for researchers to engage with other ECIU partners and benefit from access to their advanced research infrastructure.

A first step was to map the most unique and relevant research infrastructures across all ECIU partners and to ensure that access is not just theoretical. The result is a dynamic, evolving platform—a “living page” that will continue to grow as institutions contribute new infrastructures and updates.

Connecting researchers and infrastructures across Europe

Through this initiative, ECIU researchers can access facilities at partner institutions under the same conditions as local users. This creates new opportunities to:

• Use specialised equipment not available locally;
• Build interdisciplinary and international collaborations;
• Accelerate research and innovation outcomes.

Contributing to Europe’s research ambitions

The ECIU initiative comes at a time when research infrastructures are high on the European policy agenda. Across the European Research Area, there is a strong push to make infrastructures more open, accessible and better coordinated, recognising them as a key driver of scientific excellence and innovation.

By enabling transnational access and pooling resources, ECIU directly contributes to the EU objectives of reducing fragmentation and improving coordination of infrastructures and enhancing access for researchers and innovators across countries.

This demonstrates how university alliances can play an active role in shaping a more integrated European research landscape, implementing the fifth freedom of research and innovation as proposed by Enrico Letta.

Looking ahead

The launch of the shared research infrastructures page marks an important milestone—but it is only the beginning. With continuous input from ECIU partners and the wider research community, the initiative will keep evolving—helping to unlock new collaborations, strengthen excellence and make better use of the alliance’s collective strengths.

By opening up our research infrastructures across the network, we are turning ECIU into a truly shared ecosystem for research and innovation. This initiative reflects our commitment to collaboration, excellence and making the best possible use of our collective strengths for Europe”, underlines Jan Ingvar Jönsson, ECIU President.