Cooperation on Research Infrastructure–

The Nordic/Swedish Perspective

Lars Börjesson

Nordic Research Infrastructure Co-operation

Some specific examples on nordic cooperations• Nordunet – high-speed data network• Nordic Datagrid Facility (Nordugrid 2004) 2006- • Nordic Optical Telescope ( 1980s)• NORDSYNC – Nordic participation in ESRF (Grenoble)• EISCAT (FI, NO, SE) 3D upgrade onESFRI roadmap• ESS – Scandinavia ESS• MAX lV synchrotron• BBMRI Biobanks, Nordic co-operation• NordFAIR• CESSDA

• BUT…… - most RI cooperations are outside the Nordic umbrella

Nordic Cooperation on RI, examples

• Open national or regional RI to other countries– many examples in various areas, informal

• Joint Nordic Research Infrastructures– Nordic Optical Telescope, Nordunet, NDGF, MAX IV

• Joint Nordic participation in international RI– ESRF, FAIR, BBMRI (biobanks)

• Host of international research infrastructures– European Spallation Source, EISCAT

NOS-N and RIJoint Committee of Nordic Research Councils for ScienceFounded – Nordunet A/S, Nordic Optical Telescope,

Nordsync, EISCAT, Nordic data grid facility, Nordic e-Science initiative, NorduClic, NORDSIMS and have been decisive and helpful for Nordita, Mittag-Leffler inst ESS and MAX IV

• No money, no decision power - only coordination and joint actions !

• Only action when there are matching Nordic interests• Large respect for each others science policy and funding

systems• Trust

Characteristics

• Bottom-up approach for inititiatives• As little bureaucracy as possible• Lean organisations• Distributed character when possible• Consensus approach for decisions• Trust

MAX IV and ESS – world leading infrastructures

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MAX IV 2015

MAX IV groundbreaking ceremony Nov 22, 2010

Issues for Nordic RI cooperation

• When to go Nordic ? Added value ?• How to start initiatives – bottom-up through national

research councils• How to share resources and costs ? Nordic key,

scientific use…. Reserchers from other countries • How to organise (foundations, stichtung), companies,

host universities, ERIC) ?• How to coordinate – NOS - organisations,

NORDFORSK• How to set priorities ?

Paneuropean roadmap, 2006 and 2008

• 44 infrastructure-projekt in all areas

• Pillars for the development of ERA

• No EU-financing on investment

• Strong structuring effects in member states – own roadmaps

National roadmaps

• National priorities of infrastructures

• All areas• National and

international RI• ESFRI-projects are a

strong element

• No regional or Nordic roadmap

How to coordinate on the Nordic level ?

Conference conclusions

Large potential for more Nordic collaboration on research infrastructures, • fields of strategic interest to the Nordic societies • fields of particular Nordic scientific strength, such as climate, energy,

health, welfare and eScience.

Opportunities for increased cooperation relating to RI:– Join forces in international projects, e.g. in ESFRI projects when

Nordic interests match.– Better use of and easier access to existing, small to medium-sized

Nordic infrastructures– New joint Nordic infrastructures that underpin excellent research,

e.g. related to the Nordic top- level research initiative– Establish international facilities in the Nordic countries (e.g. ESS,

Eiscat_3d, Svalbard, MAX IV, carbon capture research infrastructure).

Conference conclusions, cont’d

Organisation Higher ambitions for Nordic infrastructures – increased coordination. Scientific and economic impacts of research infrastructures and the technically and politically complex processes involved, call for a Nordic coordination structure:

– Bottom-up processes to ensure scientific interest are fundamental– Better coordination at the policy level (ESFRI)– Better understanding of differences in national priorities and national

decision-making processes and R&D systems. (ESFRI) – Acceptance of asymmetry in involvement (variable geometry) (EC, ESFRI)– Enhanced facilitator role for NordForsk, including coordination,

evaluation, funding etc (ESFRI)

A NoriaNet on research infrastructure addresses some of these issues:- Evaluation of European infrastructures (cf ESFRI)- Where do priorities match, e.g biobanks, biodiversity, climate,

computing, materials

Challenges

• When to go for Nordic coordination ? How? Role for Nordforsk • Coordination for new ESFRI or international research infrastructures ? Cooperation and prioritisation needed for hosting and influence.

• Nordic Influence on existing international infrastructures ? Priorities ? Evaluation of impact of participation in Internatonal Ris.

• How to make best use of RI for excellent research ? Nordic cooperation ?

- How to work out schemes for really exploring the knowledge triangle ? Large opportunities for RI.- How to address the Grand challenges ?

• Nordic roadmap ?