European Charter for Access to Research Infrastructures (June 2015)

"Research Infrastructures, including e-infrastructures, are at the core of the knowledge triangle of research, education and innovation and therefore play a vital role in the advancement of knowledge and technology and their exploitation. By offering high quality services to Users from different countries, engaging young people, attracting new Users and preparing the next generation of researchers, Research Infrastructures help in structuring the scientific community and play a key role in the construction of an efficient research and innovation environment. Support to the effective and efficient construction and operation of Research Infrastructures is a key priority in realising the European Research Area. Because of their ability to assemble a critical mass of people, knowledge and investment, Research Infrastructures contribute to regional, national, European and global development and are one of the most efficient tools to facilitate international cooperation in science.

Research Infrastructures are also crucial in helping Europe lead a global movement towards open, interconnected, data-driven and computer-intensive research, experimental development, as well as education and training....

Just as public infrastructures are key to civil society, Research Infrastructures are the backbone of scientific communities and by now are well established in all disciplines. This spread has happened not least under the influence of increasingly important interdisciplinary User communities, digital science and of the move towards open access to scientific publications and data...."