New model for research infrastructure

Over the past year, the Research Committee has developed a comprehensive and strategically oriented model that includes both KTH’s own research infrastructures and the university’s participation in national and international infrastructures. This work has established a clearer overall perspective and strengthened understanding of how research infrastructures and testbeds together form the core of KTH’s technical research and innovation capacity.

“We want to increase transparency and create better conditions for long-term and strategic decisions regarding research infrastructure. This is an important step for KTH’s entire research environment,” says Annika Borgenstam, Vice President for Research and Chair of the Research Committee.

Focus on testbeds

KTH’s research environment includes many infrastructures of varying scope and funding. Maintaining high quality requires long-term investments, continuous maintenance, and good accessibility.

In the model, testbeds are highlighted as a new category. Testbeds are important environments for experimental development, innovation, and collaboration, and their clearer role provides better planning conditions and increased strategic visibility. As a new category, testbeds are now placed alongside research infrastructures, and their importance for KTH’s innovation capacity is more clearly emphasized in the overall infrastructure portfolio.

Follow-up through the dialogues

A central part of the model is that research infrastructures are now integrated into and followed up within the schools’ annual operational dialogues. These dialogues will also capture needs for co-funding and new investments. This means that the schools and management will have a shared and clear view of future development needs, initiatives, and financial priorities.

If you would like to learn more about the work on research infrastructures at KTH, please contact Marilyn Klarin  at the Research Support Office.

Text: Marilyn Klarin