The ERIC Forum Annual Meeting 2025 begins today at the Club University Foundation in Brussels, bringing together representatives from European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs), policymakers, and stakeholders. This two-day event provides a platform to reflect on the ERIC Forum 2 Project’s progress in helping the ERIC Forum address common challenges faced by ERICs and strengthen their strategic role within the European Research Area (ERA).
A Focus on Progress and Future Directions
The agenda features updates on the progress of the ERIC Forum 2 Project, including key deliverables such as the development of an online platform to centralize ERIC data and knowledge, capacity-building initiatives to enhance ERIC personnel skills, and the implementation of the ERIC Regulation. Participants will also discuss future priorities, including alignment with EU policies, advancing sustainability, and strengthening international cooperation.
Among the highlights, the ERIC Forum Policy Dialogue will explore ERICs as strategic assets in the context of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and the upcoming Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The event will feature insights from representatives of the European Commission, ESFRI, and national policymakers.
Satellite Event: Strengthening Public-Private Collaboration
A key component of this year’s meeting is the Satellite Industrial Event, titled “Fast-Tracking Innovation through Strategic Public-Private Collaboration for Research Infrastructures.” Organized by Work Package 9 of the ERIC Forum 2 Project, this session will address the role of ERICs as providers in the innovation ecosystem and building sustainable partnerships with industry.
The event includes keynote presentations by Dominik Sobczak, Deputy Head of Unit for Industrial Research Innovation & Investments Agenda (DG Research & Innovation), and Antje Keppler, Chair of the ERIC Forum. Panel discussions will explore best practices for public-private collaboration, strategies for positioning research infrastructures within the broader innovation landscape, and tools to enhance their long-term impact.
New Member: The CTAO Joins the ERIC Forum
Also at this meeting, the ERIC Forum welcomes the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) as its newest member after the European Commission established it as an ERIC on January 7, 2025. The CTAO will be the world’s largest and most powerful observatory for gamma-ray astronomy. The CTAO’s unparalleled accuracy and broad energy range will help to address some of the most perplexing questions in astrophysics and will be the first gamma-ray observatory of its kind to operate as an open, proposal-driven observatory providing public access to its high-level science data and software products.
It was promoted to a “Landmark” on the ESFRI Roadmap 2018 and was ranked as the main priority among the new ground-based infrastructures in the ASTRONET Roadmap 2022-2035. CTAO Managing Director, Stuart McMuldroch, will be in attendance and will sign the ERIC Forum Memorandum of Understanding during the meeting.
Networking and Knowledge Sharing
The Annual Meeting also offers valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration, including a reception and a dinner workshop in partnership with the RI Train Plus project.
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