Database of European research facilities launched
26 Sep 2013
A European database of the finest scientific research facilities was launched yesterday to better inform policy makers about the deployment of science funding.
It is believed that this tool will contribute to the success of Horizon 2020 - the European Commission’s €70 billion programme for research and innovation for the period 2014 to 2020.
The MERIL database (Mapping of the European Research Infrastructure Landscape) aims to provide a comprehensive inventory of high quality research infrastructures in Europe across all scientific domains, accessible through an interactive online portal.
“Research excellence requires high quality facilities which not only support research but also create an attractive environment for researchers
Chief executive of the ESF Martin Hynes
The longstanding need for such a database was reaffirmed in a 2009 report from the ESF and European Heads of Research Councils (EuroHORCs), which stressed that an inventory of existing facilities would enhance the information available to policy makers for planning and funding decisions.
Martin Hynes, chief executive of the European Science Foundation (ESF), said: “Research excellence requires high quality facilities which not only support research but also create an attractive environment for researchers. MERIL is a unique resource for the scientific community and we hope it will foster greater interaction, mobility and a sense of partnership across the region.”
The database will be continuously open to the addition of research infrastructures that meet the criteria for inclusion and is being launched at the Lithuanian EU Council Presidency Conference “Horizons for Social Sciences and Humanities” in Vilnius on 24 September 2013.
“[MERIL] will rely on the continuous input of facility managers to maintain its value. Collectively, they can show the scale of the research infrastructure base of Europe, so we encourage Europe’s scientific community to embrace this excellent tool and contribute to its success,” said Peter Fletcher, head of international relations at the Science and Technology Facilities Council in the UK.
