Action plan guidelines for FIRI 2021 call: Non-roadmap research infrastructures

(updated 25 March 2021)

In order to streamline the review, the action plan and the review form have the same structure. That is why it is important that the action plan follows the guidelines and structure provided.

Be as concise as you can. Write the action plan in English. The plan may be no longer than 25 pages. The font is Times New Roman (font size 12 pt, line spacing 1.15 and margins 20 mm). All bibliographic references must be added directly into the text, for example as follows: (Author(s) Year or [number]). You cannot use footnotes. The bibliography (no more than 2 pages) does not count towards the length of the plan.

Fill in the plan in the Academy’s online services on the tab ‘Action plan’. You cannot submit the plan as an appendix.

Please read the call text and its appendices carefully before you start writing the action plan.

1. Description of research infrastructure and project

1.1 Research infrastructure

Present the research infrastructures. Also describe the chosen lifecycle category (a/b) in more detail. Describe, for instance, the following:

(a) planning/construction

• Is the research infrastructure in the planning or construction stage?
• What steps are required before the infrastructure can move to the implementation stage?
• When is the implementation stage expected to begin?
• Present a possible exit plan for the research infrastructure.

(b) operation/termination

• Which parts of the research infrastructure require upgrades and/or development before 2030?
• Is there an exit plan for the research infrastructure or for parts of it?

1.2 Project to be implemented with the funding applied for

Present the project and how it promotes and develops the research infrastructure’s operations and services.

1.3 Description of membership fee contribution (applies only if applying for funding for membership fees)

Justify why you are applying for funding for a membership fee. For example, indicate the annual amount of the membership fee and what the membership fee will yield. How is the membership fee expected to develop after the funding period?

2. Scientific and educational significance

2.1 Research infrastructure

How does the research infrastructure facilitate excellent science and promote scientific achievements and renewal nationally and internationally?

• What is the number of scientific publications related to the research infrastructure per year in 2015–2019? If the number of publications cannot be provided or the information provided is not accurate, please describe briefly why this is the case.
• What are the new research results and/or developed technologies (realised and/or anticipated) produced through the research infrastructure?
• How is the infrastructure linked or how will it be linked to the national and international infrastructure and research landscape? How will the infrastructure strengthen it?
• What value will the research infrastructure add for education both nationally and internationally?

2.2 Project

How does the project promote the scientific and educational significance of the research infrastructure?

2.3 Description of membership fee contribution (applies only if applying for funding for membership fees)

How does the membership promote the scientific and educational significance of the research infrastructure?

3. Wide and versatile impact

3.1 Research infrastructure

Describe the expected/realised societal added value of the research infrastructure both within and beyond the scientific community, such as

• effects on business and industry, the public sector and employment as well as connections with business activities and new business initiatives
• effects on the operation and development of knowledge and innovation ecosystems.

3.2 Project

How will the project contribute to the wide and versatile impact of the research infrastructure?

3.3 Description of membership fee contribution (applies only if applying for funding for membership fees)

How will membership contribute to the wide and versatile impact of the research infrastructure?

4. Ownership, organisational structure, and competence and know-how

4.1 Research infrastructure

Which organisation(s) own(s) the research infrastructure? How is the ownership reflected in the infrastructure’s activities? Does the research infrastructure have a legal personality?

What is the knowledge and know-how of the infrastructure’s director and key personnel regarding the infrastructure’s activities? What is the knowledge and know-how of other staff at the infrastructure regarding the infrastructure’s activities? Describe the plan for staff skills development and possible staff career paths. Are there plans for or does the infrastructure already offer training, work rotation or other essential support to staff?

4.2 Project

How will the project influence ownership, organisational structure, division of labour and the development of skills?

4.3 Description of membership fee contribution (applies only if applying for funding for membership fees)

What effects will membership have on the ownership of the research infrastructure and/or the skills of the personnel?

5. Services and users

5.1 Research infrastructure

Services

Describe the services the research infrastructure will offer up to 2030. Are the services of the research infrastructure accessible by physical access, remote access or data access or by combinations of these? Are there any plans for new services?

Describe the access policy for the above services. Describe, for instance, the following:

• where information on access to the research infrastructure can be found
• whether users have free access to the services of the research infrastructure or whether access to the services is restricted or subject to permits. If access is restricted or subject to permits, describe, for example, if the use is restricted to only research use, internal use or other uses. What permits are required to use the research infrastructure (e.g. ethical permits)? NB! Please note that open access does not mean free of charge.
• how the access rights are administered
• if there is a usage fee for the research infrastructure.

Users

• Define the user base of the research infrastructure (e.g. person, research team, download).
• What is the research infrastructure’s current or planned number of users per year on average?
• What is the research infrastructure’s current or planned utilisation rate (% of time available)?
• Is it possible to increase the number of users? If it is, explain how.

5.2 Project

How will the project influence the access policy, service models and/or user base?

5.3 Description of membership fee contribution (applies only if applying for funding for membership fees)

What effects will the membership fee have on the access policy, service models and/or user base?

6. Digital platforms and data

6.1 Research infrastructure – data management policy

The research infrastructure’s data management policy should be described on a separate appendix.

6.2 Research Infrastructure and project – increased digitalisation and data intensity

Does the research infrastructure consider the needs for change created by the growth of digitalisation and data intensity? How does the research infrastructure aim to respond to these needs? Does the project respond to them?

What is the significance of the data produced by the research infrastructure and/or project in terms of the digital transition? Describe this from the following perspectives, for instance:

• the significance of the data produced by the research infrastructure in terms of the digital transition
• the development and/or introduction of new technologies
• service models that support digitalisation and data intensity (e.g. remote use); Does the project described here respond to these or other needs for change?
• development work or measures to promote and increase open access to data.

7. Responsible science

7.1 Research infrastructure and project – research ethics

How are the principles of good scientific practice and good governance considered in the research infrastructure’s activities and in the project? Read more in the Academy’s ethical guidelines.

7.2 Research infrastructure and project – equality and nondiscrimination

How will the research infrastructure and the project take into account and implement equality in their activities? Read more in the Academy’s equality and nondiscrimination guidelines.

7.3 Research infrastructure and project – sustainable development and the green transition

Briefly describe how the project can advance one or several goals included in the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. Read more in the Academy’s sustainability guidelines. Learn more about Agenda 2030.

Please indicate whether the data produced through the research infrastructure and the project is relevant to the green transition, and how the activities of the planned project will affect the achievement of the national carbon neutrality target in the construction, upgrading and operation of the research infrastructure. Read more: Carbon-neutral Finland by 2035, Carbon neutral Finland that protects biodiversity, Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan and Strategy for National Research Infrastructures in Finland 2020–2030.

Describe the planned actions for promoting the achievement of the objectives, as appropriate, from the following perspectives:

• facilities (e.g. construction and energy efficiency, and reuse of waste heat)
• operations (e.g. energy source or energy efficiency and materials used)
• use (e.g. remote access and travel).

8. Budget and funding

8.1 Research infrastructure and project

Total budget of research infrastructure

• Enter the total funding data for the research infrastructure for 2019–2026 in two tables. Enter the research infrastructure’s expenditure (e.g. personnel costs, rents, equipment acquisitions) in Table 1 and the research infrastructure’s revenue (e.g. contributions from own organisation, other organisations and the Academy of Finland) in Table 2. See example tables below.
• Fill in the information to the nearest EUR 1,000. Also, briefly describe the revenue and expenditure. The information will be used in evaluating the sustainability of the research infrastructure’s funding base.

FIRI funding may, for justified reasons, be granted a research infrastructure that has ongoing FIRI funding. However, new funding cannot be granted for the same purpose as the previous funding. Describe the need for new funding and its links to funding granted previously.

The financial contribution applied for from the Academy of Finland is itemised and justified on the tab ‘Funding applied for’.

Table 1. Expenditure.

Fill in the expenditure of the research infrastructure in 2019–2026 in Table 1. Itemise the expenditure as follows: personnel, equipment acquisitions, equipment maintenance, rents and other expenses. The last row is the sum of the expenditure for each year.

Table 2. Revenue.

Fill in the revenue of the research infrastructure in 2019–2026 in Table 2. Itemise the revenue as follows: organisation funding, existing Academy of Finland funding, funding now applied for from the Academy, other competitive funding, other public funding, access and service fees, other revenue. The last row is the sum of the revenue for each year.

8.2 Description of membership fee contribution (applies only if applying for funding for membership fees)

Any applications for membership fee funding or expenditure to be covered by such funding shall not be entered in the tables with funding totals. Justify this briefly in the text. Also remember to mention this in the summary (abstract) of the application.

9. Risk management plan

Research infrastructure and project

What are the critical points for success and alternative implementation strategies for the activities of the research infrastructure and the success of the project? Briefly describe the risks and a risk management plan.

10. References

• List of all of the sources used in the action plan
• The list (no more than 2 pages) does not count towards the length of the research plan.
• Please note that the text type, font size and line spacing of the list are the same as elsewhere in the plan.