RIFF Work Packages
The project’s workplan is implemented through six interconnected Work Packages (WP1–WP6). Each work package contributes to one or more of the project’s three Specific Objectives. Together, the work packages create a coherent structure that connects evidence gathering and strategic planning with community engagement, capacity building, and international integration.
WP1 - Landscaping
WP1 leader: European Future Innovation System Centre (EFIS)
WP1 provides the evidence base for the entire RIFF project. It focuses on understanding the current state of research infrastructures in Ukraine, identifying gaps and development needs, and collecting bottom‑up input from the research community.
Key objectives
- To map existing and emerging research infrastructures in Ukraine, combining desk research with data collected directly from Ukrainian stakeholders
- To assess the current condition of research infrastructures, including damage caused by the war
- To identify research areas with high potential for future RI development, taking into account national R&I priorities and Green and Digital transition goals
- To produce a comprehensive landscape report that supports strategic decision‑making on research infrastructure development in Ukraine
Main activities/events
- Open Call for RIs in Ukraine
- Landscapping Report
WP2 - Roadmapping
WP leader: Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering (INESC)
WP2 translates the results of the landscaping phase into a strategic Roadmap for research infrastructures in Ukraine. It focuses on defining priorities, aligning national and European perspectives, and ensuring broad stakeholder involvement in the roadmapping process.
Key objectives:
- To establish and align the classification criteria for research infrastructures (RIs) in Ukraine with national policy priorities and European standards, in particular the ESFRI Roadmap
- To involve policy‑makers, institutional leaders, and the academic community in the co‑design and validation of the RI classification methodology
- To develop a unified RI Roadmap that reflects national priorities, builds on the outcomes of WP1, and aligns with broader European research infrastructure strategies
Main activities/events
- Co‑design workshops
- Research Infrastructure Report
WP3 - Mobilizing Stakeholders in Ukraine
WP leader: National Academy of Sciences Ukraine (NASU)
WP3 focuses on engaging and mobilising the Ukrainian research and policy community. It provides the framework for communication, dissemination, and stakeholder involvement, ensuring shared understanding of research infrastructures and long‑term uptake of project results in Ukraine.
Key Objectives
- To establish a framework for the project’s dissemination, exploitation, and communication activities
- To promote a shared understanding of the concept of research infrastructures, as defined by the EU, ESFRI, and Ukrainian legislation, among Ukrainian policy‑makers, institutional leaders, and the wider research community
- To raise awareness within the Ukrainian research community, including potential RI users, of the research infrastructures available in the country and to encourage support for a stronger and more coordinated national RI system
- To provide national policy‑makers and institutional leaders in Ukraine with data, evidence, and examples of good practice to support informed decision‑making on the funding and governance of research infrastructures
Main activities/events:
- Information Days (Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv)
- National Day of Research Infrastructures in Ukraine
WP4 - Connecting Ukrainian RIs to the EU and Globally
WP leader: Deutsches Elektronen‑Synchrotron (DESY)
WP4 supports the international integration of Ukrainian research infrastructures and promotes their visibility beyond Ukraine. It focuses on building sustainable links between Ukrainian research infrastructures and their counterparts in the European Research Area and globally, and on promoting the RI Roadmap among international stakeholders.
Key Objectives
- To strengthen the integration of Ukrainian research infrastructures into the European Research Area, in particular through connections with ESFRI projects and other European RIs
- To facilitate networking and knowledge exchange between Ukrainian and European research infrastructure communities
- To raise international awareness of the needs and potential of Ukrainian research infrastructures
- To promote the RI Roadmap as a strategic instrument for international cooperation and investment in research infrastructures in Ukraine
Main activities/events:
- Thematic Summits in Brno/Kraków
- High-level Conference on Reconstruction of Research Infrastructures in Ukraine
WP5 - Skills Development
WP leader: University of Milano‑Bicocca (UNIMIB)
WP5 focuses on building the skills and capacities required for the sustainable planning, management, and operation of research infrastructures in Ukraine. It supports researchers, research infrastructure managers, and decision‑makers by providing structured training opportunities and practical learning experiences.
Key Objectives
- To develop a comprehensive training programme addressing key skills needed for the design, management, and operation of research infrastructures in Ukraine
- To strengthen the capacities of research infrastructure managers, operators, and researchers, enabling effective planning, governance, and service provision
- To support decision‑makers and institutional leaders in developing competences necessary for RI roadmapping and strategic governance
- To facilitate knowledge exchange and peer learning between Ukrainian research infrastructures and their counterparts in the European Research Area
Main activities/events:
- Summer Schools in Czechia and Poland
- Study visits in Czechia and Poland
- Programme in Research Infrastructures Management Fundamentals
- Hybrid hands-on workshops
- EMMRI Executive Master programme
- Call for Ukraine-ERA Fellowships
WP6 - Project Management
WP leader: Masaryk University (MUNI)
WP6 ensures the effective coordination, governance, and delivery of the RIFF project. It provides the organisational and administrative framework necessary for the smooth implementation of all project activities and the achievement of project objectives.
Key Objectives
- To establish and operate an effective project governance structure
- To ensure efficient coordination and communication among consortium partners and with the European Commission
- To monitor project progress, risks, and quality of outputs throughout the project lifecycle
- To ensure compliance with contractual, financial, and ethical requirements
Main activities/events:
- Regural project meetings