‘Impact, Industry Engagement, Research Security and Dual Use’ Workshop at Industriens Hus, Copenhagen
Around 30 representatives of a diverse range of research infrastructures gathered at Industriens Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark and online from 20 – 21 October 2025 for a hybrid workshop ahead of the Research and Technology Infrastructures (RTI) Summit 2025.
The meeting, which was co-organised by Aarhus University, the European Science Foundation and Europlanet, included a workshop on impact evaluation. Presentations and discussions covered industry engagement, research security and Dual Use, as well as upcoming opportunities within Horizon Europe and an update on a new journal focused on RIs.
The session also included an update on a White Paper on Distributed Research Infrastructures, which was discussed at the previous workshop in Krakow in June 2025. The title of the White Paper has been updated to: ‘Towards an Inclusive Framework for Europe’s Research Infrastructures: Embracing diversity in form, theme, and scale.’
In line with feedback from the Krakow meeting, additional adjustments have been made to reflect that issues in visibility in European RI policy for many RIs do not specifically originate from the size but more from the form and the prioritisation of the ESFRI Roadmap RIs and ERICs. The White Paper concludes that: ‘A resilient, adaptable, and dynamic research ecosystem requires strategic support for all RIs.’ The new version has been submitted to the European publication platform Open Research Europe (ORE) for final review.
Images
Presentations
Horizon Europe Updates – Nigel Mason (Europlanet / University of Kent)
Evaluation Frameworks: What are they and how can they help? – Jen De Witt (Independent Evaluation Consultant / Europlanet Evaluation Unit)
DeWitt, J., Heward, A. & Mason, N.J. Insights into evaluating a research project through an impact case study of a pan-European research infrastructure. Nat Astron 9, 1415–1417 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-025-02684-7
Assessment of Value and Impact of EMBL, Bianca Schmitt, EMBL Strategy Office
ESO’s Approach to Impact Reporting – Betty Kioko, ESO
EC RI Strategy – Nigel Mason (Europlanet / University of Kent)
Planetary Environmental Facility PEF Industrial Contracts – Jonathan Merrison (Aarhus University)
From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Navigating the Journey in Planetary and Space Sciences – Elias Chatzitheodoridis (Stellar Discoveries P.C.)
Small to Medium-Sized Distributed Research Infrastructures (DRI) in Sustaining European Research Competitiveness – Oguz Ozkan (ESF)
EPJ Research Infrastructures – Christian Caron (Springer Nature)
Dual Use – Nigel Mason (Europlanet / University of Kent)
Links
Distributed Research Infrastructures Workshop Series
Many thanks to Jonathan Merrison and Industriens Hus for hosting the meeting.
