Description
The Research Infrastructure (RI) ACTRIS Aerosols, Clouds and Trace Gases project - was a pan-European RI that consolidated activities amongst European partners for observations of aerosols, clouds, and trace gases and provided an understanding of related atmospheric processes to provide RI services to wide user groups.
ACTRIS was composed of 8 connected elements: distributed National Facilities (observation platforms and exploratory platforms) in Europe and globally, and 7 Central Facilities (Head Office, Data Centre and 5 Calibration Centres). ACTRIS provided access to its facilities, open-access data, research support, instrument calibration and development and training to various user groups.
ACTRIS enhanced science by providing data and access and by generating and disseminating knowledge, boosting technological development, and creating human capital and jobs for the benefit of society. ACTRIS positively impacted human health through climate resilience, protection from environmental hazards and reduced air pollution. ACTRIS was selected to the ESFRI roadmap in 2016 for its maturity and ability to be implemented within the next ten years. The ACTRIS Preparatory Phase Project (PPP) played a significant role in enabling the transition from a project-based network of research facilities to a centrally coordinated integrated pan-European RI.
ACTRIS PPP brought together a wide community of research-performing organizations, research-funding organizations and ministries who needed to take decisions and actions to move forward in the implementation of ACTRIS. The main objectives of ACTRIS PPP were to develop the organizational, operational and strategic frameworks of the RI. The work included legal, governance, financial, technical, strategic, and administrative aspects carried out in 9 work packages. The main outcomes of the PPP were signature-ready documents for the establishment of a legal entity with well-defined operations and a sound business plan.
