The document discusses European Union actions to support research infrastructures like biobanks. It outlines the establishment of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) to develop a long-term vision and policy for research infrastructures. ESFRI's roadmap identified 44 potential projects, including BBMRI, a pan-European biobank infrastructure. The EU provided funding to develop BBMRI and established a legal framework to facilitate multi-country research infrastructures. Future EU funding calls aim to support the construction and operation of infrastructures like BBMRI to enable collaborative research across Europe.

1. The European Union actions for Research Infrastructures The case of biobanks Jean-Emmanuel Faure European Commission [email_address]

2. Our global position Japan 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 R&D intensity (%GDP) EU-27 USA China R&D investment (%GDP) R&D funded by private sector (%) EU-27 1.8 55 USA 2.6 64 Japan 3.3 75 China 1.4 65

3. ERA building blocks Well-coordinated research programmes and priorities (joint programming) Effective sharing of knowledge Opening to the world through international cooperation in S&T World-class research infrastructures Single labour market for researchers European Research Area Excellent research institutions and universities