The “Research Infrastructures in a Changing Global, Environmental and Socio-economical Context” conference organised in the frame of the Belgian Presidency of the European Council, will take place on June 4th and June 5th 2024, in Brussels, at the Royal Library of Belgium, (KBR).
The conference will focus on 3 main issues: 1) Research Infrastructures (RIs) as key players of strategic autonomy in a changing global context; 2) the socio-economic and environmental impact of RIs and 3) the broad ecosystems of RIs.
Research infrastructures are increasingly faced with a changing global context, facing a volatile and unstable geopolitical situation on the global scene, new and rapidly changing political priorities (open strategic autonomy, digital and environmental transition, mission-oriented policies…). This requires flexibility, capacity to adapt and resilience. RI’s are already confronted with the scarcity of some crucial raw material and disruption in the supply chain. The conference will explore the value of RIs to open strategic autonomy, their contributions to key political objectives like the Green Deal and look at the broad ecosystem, the relation with national/regional RIs and other initiatives and instruments.
Date: June 4th and June 5th 2024
Place: Royal Library of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
The conference entrance is located at Bd de l'Empereur 2, Brussels.
Registration: As all available places have been allocated, registration for the conference on 4-5 June 2024 is now closed.
Programme: June 4th 2024 - June 5th 2024
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Introductory session | |
9:00 - 10:00 |
Welcome coffee and registration |
10:00 - 10:30 | Welcome speeches Welcome by the Master of Ceremony, Sven Retoré (visuality.eu) Marc Vanholsbeeck, Director of the Federal, Interfederal and International Coordination Department, BELSPO Anna Panagopoulou, Director at DG Research & Innovation, European Commission Elisa Rivera, Director General for Planning, Coordination and Knowledge Transfer, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities |
Key notes speeches: | |
10:30 - 10:50 | “Future vision for Research Infrastructures – Vision from the Commission” Anna Panagopoulou, Director at DG Research & Innovation, European Commission |
10:50 - 11:10 | “Future vision for Research Infrastructures - Vision from a key RI” Prof Edith Heard, Director General, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) |
11:10 - 11:20 | Short interaction with audience (moderation by the Master of Ceremony) |
11:20 - 11:45 | Coffee break |
11:45 - 13:00 | Session 1: RI as actor of Open strategic autonomy Moderator: Inmaculada Figueroa Rojas, Deputy Director General for International Consortia, Organizations and Research Infrastructures, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Spain |
11:45 - 12:00 | Impact of the global context Dr Nicole Elleuche, Managing and Administrative Director, European XFEL |
12:00 - 12:15 | Critical raw materials and supply chain challenges Dr Jana Kolar, Director General CERIC-ERIC |
12:15 - 12:30 | Key competences and skills Dr Jo De Boeck, CSO IMEC |
12:30 - 13:00 | Panel discussion |
13:00 - 14:30 | Lunch break |
14:30 - 16:00 | Session 2: Socio-economic and environmental impact of RI’s Moderator: Elena Hoffert, Scientific Advisor at the French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, ESFRI Vice-Chair |
14:30 - 14:45 | Digitalisation and AI as enablers of multi-disciplinary collaboration Anton Ussi, Operations and Finance Director EATRIS |
14:45 - 15:00 | Greening of Research Infrastructures Dr Werner Kutsch, Director General ICOS |
15:00 - 15:15 | Access as an enabler of innovation Dr Ed Mitchell, Head of Business Development, ESRF |
15:15 - 15:30 | Digitalisation and use of AI Prof Tim Hubbard, Director ELIXIR |
15:30 - 16:00 | Short Debate |
16:00 - 16:30 | Coffee break |
16:30 - 17:30 | ERIC Plate Ceremony (LOFAR, INFRAFRONTIER) |
17:30 - 19:00 | Free time |
19:00 - | Dinner at the Royal Library |
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8:30 - 9:00 |
Welcome Coffee and registration |
9:00 - 10:30 |
Session 3: The broad RI ecosystem Moderator: Prof Jose-Luis Martinez, ESFRI Chair |
9:00 - 9:15 |
“Setting the scene” Prof Jose-Luis Martinez, ESFRI Chair |
9:15 - 9:30 | ESFRI Landscape Analysis Dr Gelsomina Pappalardo, National Research Council of Italy, ESFRI Vice-Chair |
9:30 - 9:45 | European and national research infrastructure landscape – Croatia Jelena Ilić-Dreven, Head of Department for Preparation, Monitoring and Implementation of Scientific and Technological Policies, Ministry for Science, Education and Youth, Croatia |
9:45 - 10:00 | European and national research infrastructure landscape - France Dr Elena Hoffert,Scientific Advisor at the French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, ESFRI Vice-Chair |
10:00 - 10:30 | Short debate Prof Jose-Luis Martinez, Dr Elena Hoffert, Prof Jens Habermann, Sally Chambers |
10:30 - 11:00 | Coffee break |
11:00 - 12:20 | Session 4: Strengthening and consolidating the RI landscape Moderator: Anna Panagopoulou, Director at DG Research & Innovation, European Commission |
11:00 - 11:10 | Benefits of ERIC Prof Jens Habermann, Director General BBMRI ERIC |
11:10 - 11:20 | Challenge faced by ERICs Dr Antje Keppler, Chair ERIC Forum |
11:20 - 11:40 | Joining up digital services and resources for RIs Sally Chambers, Director DARIAH Cathrin Stöver, Chief Communications Officer, GEANT |
11:40 - 12:10 | Panel discussion Anna Panagopoulou, Dr Gelsomina Pappalardo, Jelena Ilic-Dreven, Dr Antje Keppler, Cathrin Stöver |
12:10 - 12:30 | Closing Marc Lemaitre, Director General DG Research &Innovation , European Commission Frank Monteny, Director General Research & Space, BELSPO |
12:30 - 14:00 | Lunch / Working lunch ESFRI EB |
14:00 - 18:00 | Visit RI |
Video streams are available here: