The European Intergovernmental Research Organisation forum (EIROforum) is a partnership that brings together Europe’s largest research organisations.

The members share the common goal to combine resources, facilities and expertise, to support European science scale to the highest heights. A primary function of EIROforum is to play an active and constructive role in promoting the quality and impact of European Research. EIROforum is committed to the coordination and collaboration among European scientific facilities.

The executive decision-making body of the EIROforum is its Council, which comprises the Director-General’s or equivalent from member organisations. The Council meets twice per year, in spring and autumn, and member organisations rotate the chairpersonship. The Council is supported by the Coordination Group, and other subject specific working groups. Additional information on the governance and working groups of the EIROforum can be found on the EIROforum Governance section.

Membership of EIROforum is based on a charter agreed upon by its members, and potential candidate organisations may become members by invitation of the EIROforum Council only. Research organisations with independent legal personality; whose membership is predominantly European; and whose primary aims are geared towards growth and development of European scientific research, may be considered for membership and admission by the Council. New organisations will only be admitted to membership by a unanimous decision of Council, and the Council has no obligation to provide reasons for its decision.

In keeping with the spirit of the EIROforum to promote European science, the Council may consider research organisations for membership, if approval of membership would be mutually beneficial between the candidate organisation and EIROforum.

EIROforum Council may consider an organisation for membership if:

• The organisation is European ‘by nature,’ such that its members are predominantly European countries;
• The organisation is founded on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention or document of a similar nature between a number of Member States duly representing European efforts in the concerned scientific field;
• The main funding of the organisation is provided, directly or indirectly, by member states;
• The organisation’s primary purposes are to provide and operate major research infrastructures or facilities, and to achieve scientific excellence by conducting or facilitating fundamental research in the natural and physical sciences;
• The organisation is considered a world-class European facility in its respective field of natural and physical sciences; Groupings or networks of institutions, under an ERIC or otherwise, are not eligible for EIROforum membership
• The facilities of the organisation are (close to) operational and are open to a substantial user community, resulting in world-leading contributions to science;
• The organisation is willing and able to commit resources to carry out common activities of the partnership, on an equal basis with the existing members, including but not limited to participation in the thematic Working Groups, participation in joint projects, and contribution to joint events; and
• The organisation accepts the provisions of the EIROforum Charter and consents to become a party to the Statement of Intent between the European Commission and the EIROforum partner organisations.

EIROforum has a well-established process of consideration for new members, and an indicative criterion which offers insight into some of the things Council will consider in taking a decision. Finally, in considering a candidate organisation, and noting the basic criteria above, Council will consider:

• The added value to EIROforum from the proposed accession;
• The long-term interests of EIROforum and its partner organisations;
• The potential effect the admission to EIROforum would have on the development of the incoming organisation.

For further information please contact the Chair of the Coordination Group on cgchair@eiroforum.org.