Infrastructure Research Division

The Division supervises the planning, development, administrative management and enhancement of disciplinary and interdisciplinary research infrastructure and University service infrastructure, working in close collaboration with the relevant Departments, Departmental Districts, Interdepartmental Centres and external stakeholders. On the instructions of the Management, it supports the Governance in defining infrastructure development strategies, promoting sustainable models for the management, access and enhancement of the University’s facilities, with a view to opening them up to external users and partners. In particular, the Division: coordinates the mapping of research and innovation needs in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders; supports the University’s governing bodies in defining infrastructure development roadmaps; coordinates the submission of complex project proposals in response to competitive programmes and calls for proposals aimed at securing funding to upgrade existing infrastructure or create new infrastructure; promotes the establishment of strategic national and international partnerships with public and private entities; oversees the financial and administrative management of funded projects, ensuring compliance with the requirements of funding programmes; promotes the establishment of public and private partnerships deemed strategic by the governance body at national and international level; oversees the monitoring and evaluation the performance and impact of the infrastructure; defines sustainable models for access to the infrastructure by internal and external users, whilst ensuring its promotion to the outside world; defines the research services offered by the infrastructure.

The Unit coordinates the planning, administrative and financial management, and monitoring of initiatives and funding programmes relating to the University’s Research Infrastructures, working in conjunction with the relevant departments and the scientific and technical representatives of the infrastructures. In this context, the Unit: coordinates the preparation, submission and management of complex project proposals under competitive regional, national and European programmes for the creation and/or enhancement of infrastructure; supervises the administrative, financial and procedural aspects of infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the funding programmes; supports the physical, financial and procedural monitoring of funded projects and infrastructure; coordinates the management and monitoring of funding programmes dedicated to research infrastructure, ensuring alignment with the University’s development strategies and with the internal and external stakeholders involved; contributes to the coordination of activities between Departments, Departmental Districts, Interdepartmental Centres and external partners involved in infrastructure initiatives; drafts policies and guidelines for the use of the Centres, setting, where possible, fee structures for their use, both internally and externally; promotes the establishment of strategic national and international partnerships aimed at developing and enhancing the infrastructure.

The Unit supervises activities aimed at enhancing, promoting and developing models for access to and use of the University’s research and service infrastructure, encouraging its shared use by the academic community and external users. In this context, the Unit: defines, in conjunction with the Infrastructure and Laboratories Technical Management Division, the models for access, sustainability and enhancement of the University’s infrastructure and core facilities; organises activities to promote and enhance the infrastructure amongst internal users, businesses, research bodies and external stakeholders; promotes the expansion of the user base and the integration of the infrastructure into national and international networks and into collaborations with public and private entities; supports the development of service catalogues, pricing models and indicators of infrastructure usage and impact.