FAQ

Community white papers are documents written by Swiss research communities to define their future needs in terms of large research infrastructures. They are one important element in the four-year process leading to the Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures written by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) in view of the ERI Dispatch to Federal Council. The white papers used to be called thematic roadmaps, but they were renamed in 2024 to avoid confusion with the Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures.

In 2021-2022, seven community white papers (then named thematic roadmaps) for research infrastructures have been published. They were written with the support of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) by the communities in Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, Particle Physics, Astronomy, Photon Science, and Neutron Science. At the end of 2024, in view of the Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2027 for the ERI Dispatch 2029–2032, short updates of these seven documents will be released.

Yes, the first such community white paper was published in 2004 by the newly created Swiss Institute of Particle Physics (CHIPP). It had as prime aim to clarify to SERI the expected involvement of Swiss researchers in the development of instruments for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) being built at CERN. This example was followed in 2007 by the astronomy community and both documents were subsequently updated in 2011 (particle physics) and in 2015 (astronomy). A similar white paper was also published in 2019 to define the future needs of Swiss space research.

The community white papers are elaborated since 2020 by SCNAT on a mandate by SERI. SCNAT uses its network of member societies and commissions to reach out to the scientists willing to get involved. It encourages diversity of the participating scientists and ensures a balanced representation of different scientific fields and higher education institutions. SCNAT defines the scope, the timeline, and the framework and offers support for meetings, the collaborative writing and layout. It also manages the publication, printing and distribution.

The community white papers are bottom-up inputs from the community on their infrastructure needs to serve the strategic planning of the higher education institutions in view of the development of large research infrastructures of national importance. SCNAT organises shortly before publication an event to present the content of the community white papers to representatives of the different research institutions. The aim is to align the strategic planning of the higher education institutions with the community needs as early as possible.

No. To be considered for inclusion in the Swiss Roadmap for Research Infrastructures, infrastructure projects must follow the Swiss Roadmap process defined by SERI.

The Swiss Roadmap process 2027 defined by SERI together with the actors of the ERI system (swissuniversities, ETH Board, SNSF and SCNAT) is currently (status June 2024) being revised. High level discussions have concluded that the process of the Roadmap 2023 should be improved but cannot be radically changed because of time constraints. In short: Higher education institutions and research institutes from ETH domain can propose new research infrastructures and major updates of existing infrastructures and these projects will be scientifically evaluated. Positively evaluated infrastructure projects will be listed on the Roadmap 2027. More details on the procedure will be communicated before the start of the process (beginning of 2025).

There are two kinds of Swiss participations in international facilities: a) International Research Infrastructure Networks with the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) legal form and b) International Research Organisations. Request for participation in international infrastructures are submitted to SERI. The Swiss participation is approved by SERI based on the added value and the importance of the international infrastructure for the Swiss science community. The process can take several years until the community in Switzerland is sufficiently large and mature so that a participation is beneficial on the long term. A clear statement in the community white papers on the needs and benefits will certainly help to initiate such a participation process.

For new national infrastructures or major upgrades, the funding is to be provided by the host institution(s), which are responsible for implementation and funding. For the funding period 2025–2028, cantonal universities hosting cost-intensive infrastructures could apply for federal funding covering up to 50% of the costs based on art. 47, para. 3 of the Swiss Federal Law on the Promotion of the Swiss Universities and on their Coordination (HFKG/LEHE). It is unclear currently (status June 2024), how much funding is provided and whether or not this will be reconducted for the period 2029–2032. The funding for the Swiss participation to international infrastructures is included in the ERI Dispatch and, if approved by Federal Council, is provided by SERI.