Visit of RICH Representatives to BIRA-IASB and KMI-IRM Highlights ACTRIS and ICOS Activities

On 4 December 2025, BIRA-IASB hosted representatives of the Research Infrastructures Consortium of National Contact Points in Horizon Europe (RICH) for an afternoon visit focused on Belgium’s involvement in the ACTRIS and ICOS European Research Infrastructures. The visit took place at BIRA-IASB (Rooms Nicolet 1 & 2) and included contributions from KMI-IRM, ACTRIS-Belgium’s closest partner.

The visit aimed to present the role of Belgian institutions within ACTRIS and ICOS at both national and European levels, while fostering dialogue on the value, impact, and future challenges of large-scale research infrastructures. Following a welcome by T. Teunens, M. De Mazière and A. Mangold introduced BIRA-IASB’s and KMI-IRM’s contributions to ICOS and ACTRIS, highlighting their scientific services, international integration, and relevance beyond the research community.

Participants then toured key observational facilities, including FTIR and UVVIS instruments, MARTISLAB, and aerosol in-situ infrastructure at KMI-IRM, offering concrete insight into how ACTRIS and ICOS observations are generated and sustained. The programme concluded with live demonstrations of ACTRIS/CREGARS and ICOS data quality assurance and control activities, showcasing how high-quality, interoperable data underpin European and global atmospheric research.

The RICH representatives expressed strong interest in the presented activities and welcomed the opportunity to better understand both the benefits of participation in European Research Infrastructures and the concerns related to their long-term sustainability and future development. The visit reinforced the importance of continued dialogue between research infrastructures and the Horizon Europe NCP community to ensure that the value and needs of RIs are clearly communicated at the European level.