| Project Detail |
A dynamic approach to research infrastructure
In a rapidly changing world post-2020, understanding ecosystem responses to global pressures is critical. In this context, the EU-funded eLTER EnRich project will adapt to altered conditions. Balancing vision with evolving circumstances, the project employs an agile, phased approach, leveraging model-based systems engineering to navigate uncertainties. This initiative plays an important role in fostering frontier research, offering insights into ecosystem changes amid global pressures. Despite ‘force majeure’, this strategy enables dynamic decision-making, ensuring the coordinated development of the research infrastructure across approximately 20 countries. Overall, the project strengthens user involvement, ensuring a resilient Europe in the face of uncertainties.
eLTER EnRich aims at catalysing the eLTER ESFRI process towards a successful conclusion, balancing between (1) the changed framework conditions since 2020 and (2) the vision and role in the European system of Research Infrastructures (RIs) identified by ESFRI. This role is to enable frontier research for a sound understanding of ecosystem change or adaptation in response to multiple global change pressures/pulses, thus providing an essential tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Green Deal, and for the transition to a sustainable and resilient Europe.
Given the current force majeure factors, the RI cannot be implemented in the linear process originally planned, but in a phased approach that requires agile planning tools to support scenario assessment and prioritisation in close interaction with our stakeholders. To this end, EnRich is implementing a model-based systems engineering approach to better capture the complexity of the distributed RI and to support dynamic decision making towards a research infrastructure capacity that is well co-ordinated across ~20 formally involved countries. The eLTER System Architecture (SA) allows us to design a baseline Skeleton RI with well selected initial key services as a starting point for incremental extensions during the operational phase. Cyberinfrastructure components of highest relevance for the eLTER service portfolio will be driven from the SA and implemented in close collaboration with related projects and RIs. Formalisation efforts will be intensified to achieve sustainable commitment from service hosts and future ERIC members, despite the current global uncertainties. This will ensure a seamless transition from eLTER projects to eLTER ERIC operations, build capacity in terms of expertise and human resources, and strengthen user involvement in the RI. EnRich will also ensure support for decision-making in the eLTER Interim Council beyond the duration of the eLTER Preparatory Phase Project. |
