Access2Access Industry Deep Dive Sandpit
Join us for the Access2Access Industry Deep Dive Sandpit — an interactive session bringing together companies, research infrastructures and intermediaries to explore how we can improve access to Research Infrastructure expertise, technologies and services.
Please note that the Deep Dive consists of two sessions: first one taking place on Tuesday 24th November at 9:30-12:30 CET and second one on Thursday 26th November at 9:30-12:30 CET.
The first session looks at how industry access to research infrastructures works in practice. Participants will identify the stages of the process where companies most often encounter difficulties, share what has worked well, and discuss three themes in small groups: support roles and who provides them, visibility and knowledge about research infrastructures, and the terms and conditions of access. The session draws on participants' own experience, so we ask you to come with an example of using, or trying to use, a research infrastructure.
The second session moves from experience to proposals. Working in small groups and on the same three themes, participants will identify what would need to be in place for companies like theirs to access and use research infrastructure services, and agree together on the changes that would make the biggest difference. The session also includes a discussion on where AI could help companies find and reach the services they need.
Background and rationale
Access2Access (A2A) is an EU-funded project focused on improving access to European Research Infrastructures (RIs), strengthening coordination between infrastructures and making their capabilities more accessible to different user communities. As part of its activities on industry engagement, the project seeks to identify practical ways to facilitate industry access to RI expertise, technologies and services, particularly through European Commission-supported access opportunities.
Improving industry access to European RIs has been the subject of extensive consultations, policy developments and practical initiatives. Previous work, notably the Enhancing SME Access to European Research and Technology Infrastructures report, has identified key challenges and recommendations. The European Commission’s Charter of Access for Industrial Users provides a further framework, while EU-funded access initiatives and RI-level activities offer operational experience.
The upcoming Industry Deep Dive Sandpit will build on this existing knowledge and ongoing initiatives rather than revisit questions already extensively explored. It will examine how recommendations and approaches are implemented, what has proven effective, where gaps remain, and which improvements or additional mechanisms could make EC-supported access more effective, relevant and sustainable.
The Deep Dive Sandpit brings together companies of different sizes, sectors and levels of RI experience: established users, companies that explored access without proceeding, and companies that have never used RIs or do not currently see them as relevant. RI representatives and intermediaries will contribute operational perspectives. The aim is to test genuine industrial value, not assume that RI access is appropriate for every company.