Instruct-ERIC

Instruct-ERIC is a pan-European distributed research infrastructure making high-end technologies and methods in structural biology available to users.

Our aim is to promote innovation in biomedical science and operates on a non-economic basis within the scope of the ERIC Regulation.

Instruct-ERIC is comprised of 14 Member Countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and United Kingdom, one member International Organisation: EMBL and one Observer Country: Greece.

Instruct-ERIC provides open access to cutting edge structural biology, specifically supporting research that uses integrated approaches and technologies. It operates with the following principles: a) scientific excellence is our priority in the services we provide and the research we support; b) transparency, equality and legality is the cornerstone of our operational model.

For a more detailed account, the Instruct-ERIC statutes may be consulted.

The history of Instruct-ERIC

Instruct began as a group of professors across Europe working together to share resources and expertise, through the Structural Proteomics in Europe (SPINE) project. Instruct was established during the European Research Infrastructure Preparatory Phase of the ESFRI roadmap, becoming operational in 2012. It was soon was recognised as a Landmark Project on the 2016 ESFRI Roadmap, and in July 2017 was awarded coveted ERIC status by the European Commission at a special ceremony in London. Click here for more information about our story. 

ERIC stands for European Research Infrastructure Consortium, and refers to a specific legal form that facilitates the establishment and operation of Research Infrastructures with European interest, on a not for profit basis. ERICs are funded by subscription from member countries and governed by member country representatives. For more information on ERICs, please consult the EU regulation. Instruct-ERIC works closely with other Biological and Medical Sciences (BMS) Research Infrastructures.

Access

Open Access to the Instruct infrastructure, expertise and methods is available to academic and industry researchers from all countries. Researchers from Instruct member countries are eligible to apply for funding. Read more about who can apply.

Access is granted subject to scientific peer review and is available either:

1. For academic research (users agree to publication of data). Researchers from member countries can apply for funding.
2. On a service basis for commercial use (user access is on a fee for service basis; no obligation to disclose or publish data)

How is Instruct funded?

Instruct-ERIC infrastructure is supported primarily by Member State funding that provides a long-term foundation for Instruct. Each member pays an annual subscription to Instruct-ERIC. Subscriptions are tiered based on the number of scientists that country represents, and in return the country has full access to laboratory visits, training, R&D funding and internships.

Instruct-ERIC also receives external funding through EU and other programmes to provide funding for Instruct services. Instruct is a partner of seven Horizon 2020 projects and coordinates Instruct-ULTRA, where sixteen partner institutes are working together to enhance and develop Instruct-ERIC.