e-Infrastructure Reflection Group

e-Infrastructure Reflection Group
Name	e-Infrastructure Reflection Group
Abbreviation	e-IRG
Formation	2000
Type	Advisory body
Headquarters	Netherlands
Region served	Europe
Leader title	Chair

e-Infrastructure Reflection Group

The e-Infrastructure Reflection Group provides strategic advice and coordination for digital research infrastructures across Europe, interfacing with institutions such as European Commission, European Research Council, European Space Agency, CERN, and European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites. It informs policymaking related to research data, high-performance computing, and digital services in collaboration with entities like GÉANT, PRACE, ELIXIR, EOSC-hub, and European University Association. The group engages stakeholders from national ministries, funding agencies, and research institutions including University of Oxford, Max Planck Society, CNRS, ETH Zurich, and Karolinska Institute.

Overview

The group operates as a forum convening representatives from ministries such as Ministry of Education (Netherlands), agencies like European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, research infrastructures like European Molecular Biology Laboratory and computing centers such as Jülich Research Centre, to address challenges in digital infrastructures, data stewardship, and services used by projects like Human Genome Project, Square Kilometre Array, and Large Hadron Collider. It produces strategic reports that interact with frameworks including Horizon Europe, Digital Europe Programme, Lisbon Strategy, and European Research Area to influence investments by organizations like European Investment Bank and national research councils such as Science and Technology Facilities Council and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

History

Founded in 2000, the group emerged amid initiatives including GRID computing, collaborations with TERENA, and dialogues prompted by projects like EGEE and Enabling Grids for E-sciencE. Over subsequent decades its work intersected with milestones like the establishment of European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, the launch of OpenAIRE, and the proliferation of infrastructures exemplified by PRACE and GÉANT. Influential figures from institutions such as European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures Secretariat, CERN Directorate, Max Planck Society President, and national ministries helped shape recommendations that informed programs under Framework Programme 7, Horizon 2020, and Horizon Europe.

Mission and Objectives

The group’s mission aligns with priorities set by European Commission communications and seeks interoperability across platforms used by consortia such as ELIXIR, EPOS, CLARIN, DARIAH, and BBMRI-ERIC. Objectives include advising on policy instruments like Horizon Europe Work Programme and standards advocated by bodies such as IEEE, ISO, and Research Data Alliance; supporting capacity for infrastructures including PRACE, EGI, EOSC, and research networks like GÉANT; and fostering skills linked to initiatives led by European University Association and Global Young Academy.

Governance and Membership

Governance comprises delegates from national ministries, research infrastructures, and funding agencies similar to European Science Foundation and NordForsk, with leadership roles occupied by experts affiliated with CERN, Max Planck Society, CNRS, CSIC, and Academia Europaea. Membership includes representatives from ministries of science of countries such as Netherlands, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, and from pan-European organizations like Council of Europe and European Committee for Standardization. The group liaises with stakeholders including European Research Infrastructure Consortium members and research networks involving TERENA alumni and EIROforum participants.

Activities and Working Groups

Activities span production of white papers, roadmaps, and policy briefs engaging projects like EOSCpilot, EOSC-hub, OpenAIRE-Advance, GEANT, and PRACE. Working groups have focused on topics including high-performance computing with Exascale Computing Project stakeholders, data stewardship linked to FAIR principles advocates and Research Data Alliance communities, software sustainability cooperating with Software Heritage, and cloud services involving providers akin to European Open Science Cloud. The group convenes workshops with participants from European Parliament delegations, national research councils, and projects such as Human Brain Project and Square Kilometre Array Organisation.

Impact and Outputs

Outputs include strategic roadmaps, annual reports, and policy recommendations that influenced major initiatives like EOSC governance frameworks, contributions to work programmes under Horizon Europe, and advice adopted by national agencies including Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and UK Research and Innovation. Its recommendations have been cited by research infrastructures such as ELIXIR, EPOS, BBMRI-ERIC, and computing projects like PRACE in shaping access policies, procurement strategies, and interoperability standards promoted by IEEE and ISO. Workshops and conferences organized in collaboration with GÉANT and CERN fostered networks among stakeholders from European University Association, European Space Agency, and national supercomputing centers.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding has been sourced from national ministries of member states, contributions from organizations like European Commission, collaborative projects under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, and partnerships with infrastructures such as GÉANT, PRACE, and ELIXIR. Strategic partnerships involve coordination with bodies including European Research Council, European Investment Bank, European Committee for Standardization, and research consortia like OpenAIRE and Research Data Alliance to align funding mechanisms, procurement practices, and sustainability models for pan-European infrastructures.

Category:European research networks