Commission Launches Survey on Charter of Access for Industrial Users to Research and Technology Infrastructures

The European Commission has launched a public survey to gather feedback on the forthcoming Charter of access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures, aiming to improve how companies engage with Europe’s cutting-edge research and technology facilities. 

The survey was launched and announced during the conference “From knowledge to impact: Shaping Europe’s next innovation wave”, held on 13 November 2025, as part of a dedicated panel session on “Connecting innovative companies to research and technology infrastructures”. 

Building on the revised Charter for Access to Research Infrastructures, the new Charter will focus on facilitating access for companies, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, and scale-ups, to Europe’s world-class infrastructures, from advanced laboratories to pilot lines and testbeds. It aims to simplify access conditions and contracts, support safe management of intellectual property, and foster cooperation between infrastructures. 

The draft Charter proposes six key principles: 

• Increased visibility and availability of services
• Transparency and quality of services
• Simplified contract and agreement procedures
• Safe intellectual property management
• Priority to companies in the EU
• Cooperation between infrastructures and access to data 

This initiative stems from the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy and aligns with the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures. It will also contribute to the upcoming European Innovation Act, which is expected to introduce legislative measures to enhance companies’ access to such infrastructures. 

The public survey is open until 10 December 2025. The final version is expected to be presented in 2026.