Serving excellent science in Europe by providing access to world-class facilities, samples, instruments, services and data

Although life science research is being conducted in a multitude of scientific disciplines, individual scientists and labs often lack the expertise they need to tackle all aspects of a research question. These researchers also need to be able to use multiple, highly complex technologies and access both services and resource collections to carry out high-quality, comprehensive research.

This access, however, is not currently easily available to every scientist. 

European Life Science Research Infrastructures (LS-RI) are attempting to change this, serving excellent science in Europe by providing needed access to world-class facilities, samples, instruments, services, and data. The European LS RIs were established to overcome a technology gap and to allow access to much-needed technologies in modern research approaches. They have the mission to support cutting-edge science by offering access to the latest technologies, comprehensive resource collections and technical expertise. Watch our video to engage with LS-RIs!

Science-Clusters.eu: Enabling Cross-Domain RI Collaboration

Five collaborative projects were funded by the European Union in 2019 to connect the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and other world-class Research Infrastructures (RIs) to the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

This has resulted in the establishment of Science-Clusters.eu, a framework that is enabling cross-domain research infrastructure collaboration and supporting open science.

Together, LS-RI and Science-Clusters.eu can make it possible for life science researchers to gain the access they need to essential technologies, services, and data.

This website aims to be a common source of comprehensive information about the 15 European LS RIs, their activities, offers, news and funding opportunities. Their joint Catalogue of Services allows you to find the right RI(s) to fit your needs. They offer expert COVID-19 advice and resources that support the global effort to address the pandemic. The Success Stories illustrate how access to RI resources can advance research projects.

Engage with LS RIs - Watch our Video!

Announcing the first CORBEL animation on European Life Science Research Infrastructures. Click here to see how users took advantage of cutting-edge technologies and resources to advance their life science research projects!

Brochure »For the Advancement of Science: Working with European Life Science Research Infrastructures«

RIs are advancing life science research by improving access to their services and technologies, performing collaborative work, and establishing common service pipelines. 

Learn more about the many advantages of working with Life Science Research Infrastructures in this brochure, created in the Horizon 2020-funded CORBEL project! 

The 15 LS RIs support cutting-edge science by offering access to the latest technologies, comprehensive resource collections and technical expertise. Discover here their fields of expertise and the resources they offer.

  • The 15 LS RIs support cutting-edge science by offering access to the latest technologies, comprehensive resource collections and technical expertise. Discover here their fields of expertise and the resources they offer.

  • Collaborative Activities

    In addition to EU projects, the LS RIs work together on initiatives such as the LS RI Strategy Group, Innovation Helpdesk and ELSI Helpdesk. Several of the LS RIs have signed collaboration agreements.

  • Access & Open Calls

    On a regular basis, certain LS RIs offer Open Calls or other access opportunities for research projects, training measures, etc. However, you can access the RIs directly at any time. Find out more about how to work with the 13 LS RIs here. 

  • Catalogue of Services

    The Catalogue of Services lists the main services of the LS RIs at a glance and aims to facilitate the utilisation of their services by researchers from all over the world. It provides a basic overview on existing services within distinct thematic fields and can be used to identify one or more RI needed for the advancement of a research project.

  • Success Stories

    How does access to LS RIs work in practice?

    The success stories illustrate how the LS RIs have been able to advance research projects, thereby facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange.

  • Projects

    The LS RIs work together on several projects funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research & innovation programme. Read more about our EU grants here.

  • What is a
    research infrastructure?

    A research infrastructure is an organization that enables the research community to use specific facilities, resources and services in order to accelerate scientific achievements and promote sustainable research.

  • Why do we need
    European research infrastructures?

    Research infrastructures are an elegant solution to make science more effective and sustainable in the complex European backdrop of interactions among nation states. They enable an organized, fair and transparent system to share knowledge and resources, and in doing so, they contribute to the pooling of data, facilities and equipment, thereby avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort.

    By making high-quality facilities, resources and services available to everyone, research infrastructures ensure that science is driven by excellence and not by the research capacity of individual countries, economic sectors, or institutions. They also ensure that this excellence is aimed at solving bottlenecks, pushing forward the frontiers of scientific disciplines, and enabling transformative technological development.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 654248 and from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme under grant agreement number 824087.