Labs, instruments, databases, collections... Research infrastructures are essential drivers of scientific progress, yet they remain costly to build and maintain, and are often confined to a single institution. Across Europe, University Alliances have a unique opportunity to change this, by pooling resources, opening access, and building shared models that benefit the wider research community.

To explore how this can be achieved, the FOREU4ALL Topical Group on Research & Innovation established the "Sharing of Research Infrastructures (ResInfra)" sub-group, dedicated to co-developing policies and models for sustainable, legally sound, and digitally enabled open and shared research infrastructures across Alliances. During the first semester of 2026, the sub-group conducted a large-scale mapping of infrastructure-sharing practices across 65+ European University Alliances, covering governance, funding, legal frameworks, digital tools, data management, pricing, and more.

This two-day workshop will present the first results of this mapping and bring together a diverse group of stakeholders - alliance coordinators and research infrastructure managers, IT and library experts, open science specialists, early-career and senior researchers, industry representatives, and European Commission officials - to analyse these findings together, identify remaining challenges, and co-design concrete recommendations for alliances, universities, and European policymakers.

More than a conference, the workshop is designed as a working session: participants will not only learn about current practices across alliances, but actively contribute to shaping future policy and operational recommendations. All sessions will also be available online.

A social programme will also be organised. More details, including the full programme, will be announced shortly. All sessions will be available online.

Interested in joining the Workshop? Applications are open until June 26, 2026.