Research infrastructure comprises all facilities and sources that promote the performance of frontier and strategic basic research across all scientific disciplines. Besides scientific infrastructure, this includes collections, natural habitats, corpora and databases (including digital opening up) and connection to data platforms. They may be single-sited, distributed, or virtual.
International research infrastructure refers to research infrastructure that operates in a collaborative framework between countries and regions and is a legal entity or one in the process of becoming a legal entity.
The International Research Infrastructure (IRI) programme governing the participation in and/or funding of international research infrastructure aims to support the Flemish participation in and/or funding of international investment initiatives that are carried out at large-scale international or supranational facilities to which the Flemish Government contributes and/or whose strategic importance for Flanders can be demonstrated.
Such support may pertain to:
- the decision for Flanders to participate in the international research infrastructure;
- payment of the membership fee for participation;
- funding of the activities or investments associated with the participation.
Deadline: 04 May 2026