Research infrastructures (RIs) are one of the key elements for the development and improvement of knowledge and technology. Long term sustainability has been repeatedly highlighted as the main challenge for European RIs and it will depend on a common understanding and agreement among policy-makers and research managers as well as the industry stakeholders.

The overall goal of the conference is to stress on the importance of continued political commitment to public and ESIF investments in research infrastructures by demonstrating evidence for the broad benefits of research infrastructures for society and industry. The event will present an opportunity to validate to policy makers, industry and society that excellent science through long-term investments in research infrastructures is critical for tackling the rapidly changing grand challenges, to accelerate diffusion of knowledge to large number of SMEs and to increase the overall innovation and competitiveness performance of Europe.