Core Facilities: what are they?

Core Facilities in the Research and Innovation ecosystem

Scientific advancement is closely tied to the technological progress enabled by multi- and interdisciplinary research contexts.
Major breakthroughs in Life Sciences, such as genome decoding, stem cell therapies, and precision medicine, result from the synergy between new technologies and the collaboration among biologists, physicists, mathematicians, and computer scientists.
Achieving significant results in these areas would not have been possible without the support of advanced research infrastructures, which integrate complex technologies, continuously updated methodologies, and highly skilled personnel.

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These technological platforms, known as Core Facilities, have played a crucial role in fostering collaborative research ecosystems and have become a fundamental part of Universities and Research Institutes.
Moreover, Core Facilities actively support an open innovation approach by facilitating ongoing exchange between research and enterprises ecosystems.

Access to Core Facilities and types of services

Core Facilities are centralized laboratories that offer access to instruments and services, based on established fee-for-service rates, to both public and private research Institutions and enterprises. Services can range from sample analysis and consulting to equipment use and training.

Core Facilities are pivotal in enhancing the effectiveness of scientific research and constitute a key factor in promoting elements such as:

1. Open access to advanced technologies and high-quality services;
2. Support for interdisciplinary research;
3. Encouragement of collaborations between internal and external researchers from Universities and Research Institutes;
4. Optimization of institutional investments;
5. Open innovation.

The collaboration policies, strategies, and best practices in Core Facility management which are shared among NICo members are described in the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed during the Kick-off Meeting of the Network held in Trento on June 6, 2022.