Managing the Lifecycle of an RI

Session 1 concerns the Lifecycle approach as a methodology for the progress analysis of a Research Infrastructure project. It has been adopted in roadmapping exercises both at the European level by ESFRI and at the global level by GSO-GRI. The Lifecycle is mapped onto the scientific definition of scope of the RI, the user community, the interfaces with other existing or foreseen RIs, the resources that are available (financial, in-kind) and the organisation steps (informal consortium, MoU, formal consortium, legal entity) that may be needed at the different stages of RI life. The EC measures that can support the birth and growth of a RI project, from Framework Programme grants to Structural and Investment Funds will be reviewed and analysed with examples.

Case studies of specific RIs at different stages of their Lifecycle and with different organisation and legal statute will be presented and analysed in steps: 1) a one-hour lecture by the coordinator or executive officer of the RI; 2) analysis of ESFRI monitoring reports concerning the progress of the RI through its lifecycle.

The rationale of adopting ‘Readiness levels’ of the RI at a given stage, or to move to the next one, will be explained with specific reference to management issues and user-service goals. Analysis of the infrastructure services expected at each stage, and strengthening and sustainability solutions through the lifetime.

After completing Session 1, the participants will master:

• Handling the concepts and definitions of the Research Infrastructures ecosystem as represented in the ESFRI Landscape Analysis and National Roadmaps.
• Evaluating the implications of the horizon scanning exercises of research communities, like e.g. ASTRONET or NuPPEC in physics. These typically identify the long-term objectives of a community and can provide the scientific case for a RI project if other conditions are met: technical feasibility, lack of alternatives, availability of a critical mass of competencies in the relevant project geometry (local, regional, national, European, international, global).
• Understanding the interplay between institutional/national/European support actions suitable to develop the concept of a new RI or its major upgrade (e.g. design study).
• Estimating the time needed to mature the concept of the new RI, or of its major upgrade.
• Introducing the concept of Readiness Levels (RLs) for analysing the management goals at all stages.
• Describing and identifying transitions from organization models through the RI Lifecycle.
• Analysing some cases of successful management evolution through the lifecycle.
• Identifying the key features of the Framework Programmes of the EU in the Excellent Science Pillar – Research Infrastructures.
• Understanding the role of the Programme Committee in orienting FP measures.
• Developing managerial skills for monitoring the progress through Readiness Levels and leveraging on public funding calls.

Session 2 provides an overview of initiatives and instruments for supporting RIs at institutional, national and international level, and the corresponding funding models. The overview includes institutional or national funding for developing the concept of a RI that is backed by research community/ies (bottom-up approach). The sustainability strategies for the long-term, multi-decade, operational life, are analysed for RIs of national, pan-European or global-international scope.

After completing Session 2, the participants will master:

• Providing an overview of opportunities to earn financial support at national and international levels: funding models and opportunities.
• Understanding the logic and schemes of Framework Programme funding opportunities, the possibility to combine more than one source of support, also in collaboration with other RIs (clusters).
• Mastering the process of inclusion in National Roadmaps and running national support schemes.
• Assessing business models in the construction phase and help it evolve in the operation phase.
• Mastering the ERIC status, the application process and its intrinsic benefits and operational hurdles.
• Understanding the user’s perspective of access to RIs and access to funding for developing specific instrumentation (hardware, software) to be used at the RIs and shaping their own academic activity.

Session 3 provides an overview of the current framework for monitoring and assessment of the quality and impact of RIs with a special focus on ESFRI methodology and European initiatives. It will support Managers in identifying Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess a RI quality and provide tools for identifying Key Impact Indicators (KIIs) to assess a RI impact.

After completing Session 3, the participants will master:

• Making usage in the management of a RI of the results of monitoring and assessment of the quality and impact of RIs.
• Developing optimal elements of monitoring as managerial skills to self-evaluate the Readiness Level of a RI and its progress towards the next RL.
• Identifying Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess the RI progress by integrating the “external KPIs” established by ESFRI or other monitoring process with tailored elements.
• Understanding socio-economic cost-benefit analysis of RIs.
• Assessing the impact of a RI through the usage of Key Impact Indicators (KIIs).
• Adapting the RI management plan to the expectations of major stakeholders: institutional, government, EC, global.
• Including in the strategic plan the flexibility to react to external emergencies (pandemics, earth, climatic, social, international instabilities).

The programme is aimed at managers, operators and other professionals at Research Infrastructures and Core Facilities willing to share their experience and upskill themselves.

The pilot programme is designed by academic and educational experts who gathered in the RItrainPlus project to share their long experience working or leading Research Infrastructures or other scientific institutions.

The programme is divided into seven short courses, each containing separate sessions. The short courses take up 16–32 hours each for the training sessions, plus individual work.

The participants can take up either the whole programme and progress from one short course to the next, or take an individual short course that best fits their needs. For those interested in taking up the whole programme, it should be noted that although the session activities will not be overlapping, time for individual work might be hardly enough. Participants are advised to check the course schedules for more information.

Once selected to be part of the program, the University of Milano-Bicocca will provide you with an official account to log into the e-learning platform. Through this email account, you will receive all official communications from the University and the final Certificate of Completion.

The Pilot courses are part of a development project which will be enriched by the Participants. Strong commitment to this concept is necessary. The participant is expected to participate in at least 75% of the scheduled activities. Participation in the programmed in-person activities is mandatory. The individual courses are assessed in different ways.

The participant needs to participate in all the sessions in the short course. Course’s thematic units are not opt-in modules.

The pilot courses are offered free of charge for the Participants. The Project is supported by the European Union’s H2020 programme under grant agreement no.101008503

The short courses are offered mostly as online courses that take up to 6 typically non-consecutive half-days. The courses are taught by experienced Academics and Executives at RItrainPlus partner universities and institutions with the contribution of invited international Experts. The courses will be delivered in the period October-November 2024.

All CPD courses will be formally delivered by the University of Milano-Bicocca. As such, you will be part of the academic community. According to Italian academic law, there are some compulsory tasks that must be performed:

1- The application period is from July 31, 2024, to September 9, 2024.

2- To provide the Faculty with a comprehensive view of all candidates, you must browse the course catalog and submit all required information through a specific form for each course you wish to participate in. This step is mandatory to enter the selection process, but it does not guarantee admission (please refer to point 4).

3- The selection of accepted candidates will be performed until September 17th, 2024.

4- All selected candidates are required to formally enroll on the ESSE3 platform here: https://s3w.si.unimib.it/Root.do. If a candidate does not complete the process on the ESSE3 portal, they cannot be admitted to the courses. The profiling process must be completed through this platform and cannot be handled by the administrative office, as it is a formal requirement for admission. All registrations must be completed by October 3rd. No grace period has been planned.

Selected participants are informed of the acceptance of their application by September 17th 2024.

If the participant wishes to cancel their participation, they are required to inform the organizers at least two weeks prior to the starting of the course