Proposal

Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures

Research Infrastructures

The overall objectives of the Research Infrastructures Programme under Horizon Europe is to empower Europe through world-class sustainable research infrastructures. Research infrastructures are facilities, resources and services that allow researchers to conduct ground-breaking research in the European Union. They include research laboratories, scientific instrumentation and technologies, data resources, computational tools, and communication networks. Research infrastructures are open and accessible to the best researchers from Europe and beyond to foster ground-breaking innovation for the benefit citizens and society. 

 

Research Infrastructures Work Programme 2026-2027

The work programme is available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal here.

 

Impact Areas and Destinations

The work programme for Research Infrastructures aims to contribute to five expected impact areas of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027, which are the five destinations (key areas) of this work programme:

INFRADEV - Consolidation and evolution of the European Research Infrastructure landscape, to develop an integrated European ecosystem of research infrastructures, including single-sited facilities, distributed facilities and networks of facilities providing joint services.

INFRAEOSC - Enabling an operational, open and FAIR EOSC ecosystem, to contribute to a web of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) research data and provide a trusted and secure federated system of research data and services (EOSC Federation).

INFRASERV - Research infrastructures services to support a healthier future, a global climate and energy vision, a circular and resilient economy, and to advance frontier knowledge, to support transnational access to state-of-the-art facilities for researchers and innovators, relevant for a large research domain or in support of societal challenge and EU priorities.

INFRATECH - Next generation of scientific instrumentation, tools, methods, and advanced digital solutions of research infrastructures, and fostering innovation and co-creation with industry, to support research infrastructure needs for technology development to maintain and upgrade their services and to create new ones, and to support the Destination Earth initiative.

INFRANET - Network connectivity in Research and Education – Enabling collaboration without boundaries, providing high-bandwidth networks and network services to interconnect researchers, data and computing resources in a non-discriminatory way regardless of the location of the users and the resources to allow scientists to conduct excellent research.

 

Areas of intervention

  • consolidating and developing the landscape of European research infrastructures
  • opening, integrating and interconnecting research infrastructures
  • reinforcing European research infrastructure policy and international cooperation
  • consolidating and developing the innovation potential of European research infrastructures and activities for innovation and training

 

Mission Areas

As European Research Infrastructures have the potential to enhance society’s long term and consistent problem-solving capacity, new efforts are now needed to ensure the provision of customised, impact-oriented Research Infrastructures services and resources to accelerate the transition towards a socially inclusive green and digital future and to support an effective and responsive health system as well as evidence-based policy-making. In this regard, Research Infrastructures can substantially contribute to the objectives of Horizon Europe’s five mission areas as well as to support its innovation dimension.

 

Synergies with other EU Programmes 

It is necessary to foster synergies between the European Research Infrastructures funding instruments to align R&I investments, ensure access to excellence and translate research results for the benefit of the society and the economy. Cooperation with other policy and international cooperation-oriented measures for research infrastructures and synergies with other networks is encouraged.

 

European Commission Priority Areas 2024-29

The 7 Commission priorities for 2024-29

  • Sustainable prosperity and competitiveness
  • A new era for European defence and security
  • Supporting people and strengthening societies
  • Sustaining quality of life
  • Protecting democracy and upholding values
  • A global Europe
  • Delivering together and preparing the Union for the future. 

 

Other Relevant Links

 

Local Supports

Many of UCD's Colleges, Schools, Institutes and Centres have local support staff that can help you to find research funding. They may also send out local, discipline-specific research bulletins, newsletters or funding call notices.

College / School / InstituteName & EmailTel
College of Engineering and Architecture Caroline Treacey 1766
School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy Louise Dunne  2673 
I-Form Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Sophie O'Kelly 2962
     
College / School / Institute Name & Email Tel
College of Social Sciences and Law Elva Hannan 8264
School of Archaeology Conor McDermott 8668
School of Politics and International Relations Melina Ziegel 8670 
School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice Maureen Lyons 8574
School of Law Suzanne Darcy  4113
College / School / Institute Name & Email Tel
College of Health and Agricultural Sciences chas@ucd.ie    
School of Agriculture and Food Science
Chanemouga Arunachalam
7390
School of Agriculture and Food Science (Forestry) Charles Harper 7358
UCD Institute of Food and Health Geraldine Quinn 2808
School of Medicine UCDMR 6600
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems

Maria Lawlor

6489
UCD Clinical Research Centre crc@ucd.ie 4577
Systems Biology Ireland  Hugh Doyle   6339 
CSTAR (Research Methods & Statistics Support) cstar@ucd.ie 2076
College / School / Institute Name & Email Tel
College of Science
 
BiOrbic, Bioeconomy SFI Research Centre
Info@biorbic.com
2690
iCRAG Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences
 
Insight Centre for Data Analytics
 
School of Computer Science Julia Palma 2985
School of Mathematics and Statistics 
   
UCD Earth Institute Caitriona Devery
 

Central Supports

The units below may be able to provide you with specific advice on writing sections of your proposal

ServicesContact Details

You can talk to the EU Research Office at any time, who can:

  • Answer your queries on Horizon Europe
  • Liaise with National Contact Points (NCPs)
  • Advise on tools to assist with partner search
  • Provide guidance on consortium formation
  • Assist with early stage proposal development
  • Demonstrate how to use the EU Participant Portal to create your proposal
  • Direct you to relevant policy documents
  • Provide proposal writing support to UCD coordinators
  • Provide a proposal management and proposal review service

For queries relating to Research Infrastructure contact the EU Research Office: EUResearchOffice@ucd.ie

ServicesContact Details

All EU Horizon Europe application budgets must be approved by the UCD Research & Innovation pre-award accountant.  Template Horizon Europe Financial Calculators   can be downloaded to assist you in the calculation of your proposal budget.

The costing of salaries in a research proposal should adhere to the IUA salary scales for postdoctoral researchers and research assistants.

Email: budgetapprovals@ucd.ie 

ServicesContact Details

The NovaUCD Knowledge Transfer team can:

  • Advise on industry engagement and content of support letters, commercialisation plans, fit with Venture Capital (VC) and investor interests
  • Develop programme Intellectual Property (IP) strategy and terms.
                   

If you require further information or support contact a member of the Knowledge Transfer team

ServicesContact Details

UCD Office of Research Ethics provides an Ethics Advisory Consultation for staff and students. 

In addition, the UCD Office of Research Ethics runs seminars, presentations and workshops on research ethics and related areas.

For general queries email:
research.ethics@ucd.ie or tel: 8767

ServicesContact Details

The Work at UCD website outlines the benefits of working at UCD.

In addition, the UCD Research Careers Framework (RCF) establishes a structured and supportive skills and early career development model for Post-Doctoral Fellows at UCD.

 

Research Careers Framework

Services Contact Details

UCD Library Research Services is responsible for developing and delivering specialist and innovative services to researchers, including:

Library services to support researchers

ServicesContact Details

Research IT provides a range of services, designed to support and facilitate researchers in their use of IT as an enabler for their research activities.

Research IT
ServicesContact Details

The SIRC Office can provide assistance and guidance on developing safety management plans, risk assessment, and other safety documentation.

In addition the SIRC Office can provide training across a wide range of areas and can develop bespoke safety training for your research group if required. Click here for further details on training.

Email: sirc@ucd.ie

UCD Global provides advice and assistance in writing proposals to the ERASMUS+ Programme, getting mandates signed and obtaining UCD Erasmus+ data.

Email: Eve Brosseau or tel: 8580 for further information