Optimal use of research infrastructures

Worry-free

All researchers can focus on their research without worries in 2027, making effective use of the facilities and expertise available in the digital infrastructure. In the context of SURF, we realise a strengthened connection of local, national and international infrastructures and focus on increasing the efficiency and performance of applications, for example by applying AI. We also support the knowledge sharing and innovation needed for this.

State-of-the-art

We set up experimental environments, in which together with researchers we optimise the latest technologies, such as AI and quantum, or state-of-the-art infrastructures for research applications. This allows researchers to push the boundaries of their research. Knowledge sharing takes place together with the domain expertise of research communities and Digital Competence Centres (DCCs).

Jointly directing investments

Through structural cooperation with discipline-specific initiatives, we ensure that services and expertise in infrastructures remain in line with future research needs. This involves making optimal use of investments by institutions and in the national digital infrastructure. This includes jointly managing investments at institutional and (inter)national level. In this way, we make optimal use of limited public resources to support internationally leading research. 

Large-Scale Research Infrastructure (LSRIs)

Groundbreaking research often requires advanced research instruments, such as telescopes, medical scanners or data collections. SURF contributes technology and expertise to a number of these large-scale scientific infrastructures (LSRI).

NWO’s National Roadmap for Large-scale Research Infrastructure encourages the construction of large-scale research facilities and promotes the Netherlands’ participation in international research infrastructures. SURF collaborates on such projects to develop as many generic building blocks as possible, which can then be reused for other projects – the so-called ‘digital commons’. This makes the infrastructure easier to maintain and more affordable.