Strengthening the human capital managing research infrastructures, including in international context
- Fetched
- 2026-06-09T15:42:49Z
Topic description
Expected Outcome: Projects are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes: Specialised training provided to the staff managing research infrastructures of European interest, enhancing the skills of RI research infrastructure staff as regards planning future operations and engaging with their various user communities and stakeholder groups (including funding agencies, academia, industry). Broader understanding of the EU research infrastructures policy, the possibilities for transnational access and the basics of international research infrastructures cooperation, be it via ERIC creation and development or other governance models. Shared understanding of the possibilities and potential offered by EU policies and funding instruments, improving the impact of research infrastructures and enhancing European scientific capacities. The completion of the training programme should lead to recognised accreditation in ECTS points. Scope: This topic aims at the training of staff managing research infrastructures, the adequate supply of skilled human resources, and strengthening and sustaining specific education curricula and courses with due attention to widening and candidate countries as well as to evolving research infrastructure environments. The complexity of research infrastructures and the exploitation of their full potential require adequate skills for their managers. Research infrastructures are built and operated at the cutting edge of what is technologically feasible, involving a high associated risk that needs to be managed. They may involve a wide consortium of partners for their funding, construction and operation, either because they are distributed research infrastructures, or because certain problems are of a scale that can only be tackled through European and international cooperation. This renders their governance and the associated financial and legal issues a complex problem. The skills and expertise specifically needed to effectively construct, manage and use research infrastructures are therefore not widely available. Proposals should build on existing curricula such as those developed under the RItrainplus [1] project and strengthen and continue professionalising the training offer including through sustained and recognised executive master’s in management of research infrastructures. Proposals should pay attention to the upskilling of research infrastructures managers with regard to the impact of increased digitalisation of research infrastructures, including use of AI, further internationalisation and geopolitical changes, and closer links to industry. Proposals should engage with pan-European research infrastructures such as those prioritised by ESFRI, ERICs and EIROforum, to ensure the proposed training fits the needs of complex research infrastructures. The proposed action should include several of the following objectives: Support the training of staff managing research infrastructures, and exchanges of staff and best practices. The training may also be offered to students engaged with a research infrastructure or aiming at a research infrastructure career path. Develop specific education curricula and courses targeting pan-European research infrastructures, taking into account their diverse scientific fields and organisational models; in doing this, engagement with universities is expected. Offer dedicated scholarships to staff in Ukrainian research infrastructures, while promoting and disseminating training opportunities to widening and candidate countries in particular. Address training topics such as the socioeconomic impact of research infrastructures, scientific capabilities and capacity, engagement with academic users and industry (including understanding the needs of startups and scaleups), in-depth guidance on State Aid rules, and the long-term financial and environmental sustainability of the infrastructure’s activities. Address the areas of data management, exploitation and stewardship skills, FAIR principles and data protection rules. Pay attention to training research infrastructure staff in the different governance models for international research infrastructure collaborations, across different scientific fields, taking stock of the rapidly evolving geopolitical context. Address training on research security and provide an overview of how research infrastructures need to face these challenges in their operations. Report on the sustainability of the training activities, and engage with national agencies, ERICs, international organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. Demonstrate an evolution based on related past activities and the experience gained in projects such as RAMIRI (Realising and Managing International Research Infrastructures) and RItrain (Research Infrastructures Training Programme). [1] RItrainPlus - RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING PLUS https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101008503
Conditions and documents
General conditions 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide . 3. Other Eligible Conditions described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual . 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf ]]. described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the specific topic of the Work Programme Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Standard application form (HE CSA) Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Standard evaluation form (HE CSA) Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA Lump Sum MGA Framework Partnership Agreement FPA Call-specific instructions Detailed budget table (HE LS) Information on financial support to third parties (HE) Information on clinical studies (HE) Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 3. Research Infrastructures HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Budget overview
{
"budgetTopicActionMap": {
"113503": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-TECH-01-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "110000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 11,
"maxContribution": 10000000,
"minContribution": 5000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113504": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "40000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 6,
"maxContribution": 8000000,
"minContribution": 4000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113505": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-05 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "8000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"maxContribution": 8000000,
"minContribution": 8000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113506": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-TECH-01-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "15000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"maxContribution": 7500000,
"minContribution": 5000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113507": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-04 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "2000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"maxContribution": 2000000,
"minContribution": 2000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113508": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-06 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "8000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 5,
"maxContribution": 1500000,
"minContribution": 1000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113509": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "10000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 4,
"maxContribution": 3000000,
"minContribution": 2000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113510": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-01-EOSC-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "40000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"maxContribution": 40000000,
"minContribution": 40000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113511": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-07 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "10000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 3,
"maxContribution": 4000000,
"minContribution": 1000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113512": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-SERV-01-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "32000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 1,
"maxContribution": 32000000,
"minContribution": 32000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113513": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-03 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "9900000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 3,
"maxContribution": 4500000,
"minContribution": 3000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
],
"113514": [
{
"action": "HORIZON-INFRA-2026-01-EOSC-02 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions",
"budgetYearMap": {
"2026": "10000000"
},
"deadlineDates": [
"2026-06-16"
],
"deadlineModel": "single-stage",
"expectedGrants": 2,
"maxContribution": 5000000,
"minContribution": 3000000,
"plannedOpeningDate": "2026-03-10"
}
]
},
"budgetYearsColumns": [
"2026"
]
}