Conferentie in Kopenhagen over Europees onderzoek (en)

Ministers, European Commissioners, experts and more than 600 delegates will gather in Copenhagen to define the framework for continued active cooperation between EU countries regarding research infrastructures. The conference will result in concrete input to Horizon 2020.

Research infrastructures are often so specialised, expensive and comprehensive that no single country can raise investments or utilise the facilities alone. That is why the development of European cooperation on research infrastructure is a cornerstone of the realisation of a common European research platform.

From 21 to 23 March, ministers, European Commissioners, experts and more than 600 delegates will gather in Copenhagen for the International Conference on Research Infrastructures, ICRI 2012, which is one of the largest conferences taking place during the Danish EU Presidency.

The aim of the ICRI 2012 conference is to define the framework for continued active European and global cooperation on research infrastructures, which coordinates already existing initiatives while meeting the needs for new potential ventures.

The conference is particularly focused on health, climate change, energy and e-infrastructure and thereby reflects a number of real global challenges. It will result in concrete input to the coming EU framework programme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020.

”ICRI 2012 will provide an important push in the direction of better international cooperation on research infrastructures. Modern and advanced research infrastructures are meaningful to new scientific breakthroughs as well as the development of European competitiveness. They help educate, attract and retain the best students and the greatest research talents in a global and competitive knowledge market. The establishment of cross-border cooperation on research infrastructures is therefore important in the effort to meet great global challenges," says Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education Morten Østergaard.

Research infrastructure is joint term for microscopes, telescopes, laboratories, test facilities, databases, libraries, computers, registers and many other instruments and facilities that have crucial significance for the work of researchers within all scientific fields.

Research infrastructure has significant meaning for carrying out quality research. The establishment of larger research infrastructures often has broad and direct societal consequences in the form of spin-off companies, new marketing opportunities and the development of innovative products.

ICRI 2012 is being arranged by the Higher Education Ministry in connection with the European Commission and takes place in the Bella Center in Copenhagen.