Work to update Finlands national roadmap for research infrastructures underway
The Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee has started its work to update the national roadmap for research infrastructures. The aim is to compile information on projects that should be maintained or included in the new national roadmap for research infrastructures.
A total of 20 research infrastructures were accepted for the inclusion in the first national-level roadmap in 2009. However, since then, the field of national research infrastructures has changed in many ways, and consequently, the old roadmap will be wholly revised.
The research infrastructure roadmap is a plan for new research infrastructures needed in the next 10-15 years or research infrastructures under construction or major renewal of present research infrastructures.
The roadmap will also include Finnish participation in new international projects as well as major renewal or expansion of projects involving international collaboration.
Research infrastructures are resources of research methods, equipment, materials and services facilitating research and development, innovation and the development of research capacity. Examples of research infrastructures include research equipment, research and measurement stations, research vessels, special laboratories, collections and databases of research materials, research data communication networks, archives and libraries.
Expert group for research infrastructures
Finlands national RI roadmap will be updated in 2013 at the latest, and the national expert group for research infrastructures in Finland will assess the urgency and priority level of projects included in the roadmap.
The Finnish Research Infrastructure Committee is chaired by Professor Eero Vuorio (Biocenter Finland), with Vice President for Research Riitta Mustonen (Academy of Finland) as vice chair.
The members are Director Riikka Heikinheimo (Tekes), Director Annu Jylhä-Pyykönen (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture), Director General Lea Kauppi (Finnish Environment Institute), Industrial Counsellor Petri Lehto (Ministry of Employment and the Economy), Professor Matti Manninen (University of Jyväskylä), Director General Jussi Nuorteva (National Archives), Professor Erkki Oja (Aalto University), Professor Taina Pihlajaniemi (University of Oulu), Professor Anne-Christine Ritschkoff (VTT), Professor Lea Rojola (University of Turku), Director-General Päivi Sillanaukee (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health), Director General Petteri Taalas (Finnish Meteorological Institute), Professor Tuula Teeri (Aalto University), and Professor Thomas Wilhelmsson (University of Helsinki). At the Academy of Finland, the person in charge of infrastructure issues is Senior Science Adviser Eeva Ikonen.
Earlier in May 2012, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture allocated EUR 4 million to the Academy for RI funding. In addition, the committee drew up a proposal for the Budget on the funding of RI projects.
- National-level research infrastructures. Present state and roadmap. Summary and recommendations
Publications of the Ministry of Education, Finland 2009:4