Local roots, European reach: new strategy sets direction for research and technology infrastructures and calls for stronger interconnected innovation ecosystems

Local roots, European reach: new strategy sets direction for research and technology infrastructures and calls for stronger interconnected innovation ecosystems

'Europe’s future innovation strength will depend on its ability to connect local excellence with a shared strategic direction, turning a diverse Research and Technology Infrastructure landscape across European regions, into a truly integrated and competitive network for Europe'. This was the key takeaway message of the high-level Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) seminar 'Local infrastructures and European vision: the new Strategy on research and technology infrastructures' on 5 May 2026 in Brussels. 

Over 90 policymakers, regional leaders, and research and innovation experts gathered at this event co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions and DG RTD of the European Commission, to discuss how local governments can work more effectively together with Research and Technology Infrastructures (RTI’s). Such infrastructure ranges from advanced laboratories, large scientific instruments and data centres to pilot lines, testbeds and clean rooms. Collectively, they support the full innovation cycle, from frontier science to the validation and deployment of new technologies. 

The main questions  for discussion were how to share resources, build partnerships that amplify the infrastructures’ impact beyond their territories, and nurture a cohesive and integrated ecosystem where local action contributes to a united European vision, as set out in the European Strategy on research and technology infrastructures, published in September 2025.

The importance of Research and Technologies being regionally anchored and better connected to regional innovation ecosystems across Europe for increasing Europe’s global competitiveness was voiced in the opening statements: 

  • First Vice-Chair of the SEDEC Commission of the CoR Tanya Hristova underlined the need to place regions at the centre of Europe’s innovation agenda. She stressed that local authorities are not just implementers, but strategic actors capable of shaping competitive ecosystems. 
  • MEP Eszter Lakos (ITRE Committee), highlighted the importance of aligning infrastructure investments with Europe’s industrial and technological priorities, underlying the need for stronger synergies between EU funding instruments and regional capacities to ensure long-term impact. 
  • Éva-Mária Szávuj, Head of the European Semester and Country Intelligence Unit and Kirsi Haavisto, Head of Unit of the Knowledge Valorisation & Technology Infrastructures unit at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, emphasised that Europe must move towards a more coordinated and accessible infrastructure landscape, highlighting that improving access for researchers, innovators and industry across borders will be key to strengthening Europe’s global competitiveness. The Charter of Access for Industry users, aiming to simplify and harmonise diverging access and contractual conditions, is to be published in the coming months. 

During a panel moderated by ERRIN’s Head of Projects Astrid Hannes, experts discussed how the strategy can respond to the global race for technological leadership and echoed key messages from ERRIN’s input to the CoR consultation, which is attached. 

  • Enea Hodzic, City Councillor of Frankfurt am Main (Young Elected Politician): highlighted the role of local authorities as accountable 'broker', being uniquely positioned to connect university spin-outs with the SME’s because we are accountable to the entire local ecosystem. She stressed the need for shifting from local authorities being "notified" of decisions to becoming genuine co-designers of infrastructure strategy from the outset.
  • Dr Daniel Granados, Senior Research Professor, IMDEA Nanosciencia, emphasised the importance of a bottom-up approach, in which researchers are strongly engaging with industry partners, crystallising the real knowledge gaps, identifying opportunities to scale up collaboration and knowledge valorisation, and providing support to navigate the RTI landscape.  
  • Muriel Attané, Secretary General, EARTO, shared good examples of RTO’s adopting a strong ecosystem strategy like imec and the support the Flanders region is providing to increase access for sme’s, start-ups and scale-ups of their world’s most advanced cleanroom for the development, prototyping and manufacturing of semiconductors on demand. 

In the concluding segment, Markku Markkula presented key takeaways from the CoR's opinion on the strategy. As the rapporteur of the opinion, he stressed that a successful European approach must be built on stronger multi-level governance, where local and regional actors are fully engaged in both design and implementation. He underlined the importance of place-based innovation and that more transformative approaches are needed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems and achieve systemic and societal change at the local level. He also emphasised the importance of translating infrastructure investments into tangible benefits for citizens, including jobs, skills and regional competitiveness. 

You can find the full ERRIN input paper and the draft CoR opinion of Rapporteur Markkula attached.