Existing Instruct Centres are validated periodically and opportunities will arise for new institutes to apply to become Instruct Centres. For institutes which are outside of the current Instruct-ERIC member countries, there will need to be an additional process for the country to sign up and subscribe as a member (see how to join as a member country).
Applications will be evaluated against specific validation criteria by a Validation Committee established by the Instruct-ERIC Council with advice from the Scientific Advisory Board. Centres are asked to provide a business case that sets out their strategic fit with Instruct-ERIC goals. Criteria for selection are as follows:
- Provides core technologies (essential for the success of Instruct-ERIC)
- Technology / expertise is of world-leading standard
- Fit with Instruct-ERIC strategy and with existing centres
- Complements existing centres, e.g. in technology, expertise and geographic location
- Has contributed significantly to its field in Europe
- Firm commitment to provide access at a level that allows a reasonable number of Instruct-ERIC projects to be accommodated
- Firm commitment to provide expertise necessary to support users and technical development (as appropriate)
- The applicant’s centre country or other funding agency is willing to make the commitment required to support Instruct-ERIC (e.g. underwrite fixed running costs, pay country subscription to Instruct-ERIC if a new country)
- Willing to comply with Instruct-ERIC Intellectual Property (IP) policy for Instruct related projects
- Willing to enter pan-European collaborations (science)
- Track record of European or International scientific collaborations
- Willing to collaborate in technology development
- Experience of integrative technological approaches
