Frequently Asked Questions

IRISCC supports research related to climate risks: 

Climate hazards: 

• Extreme weather events: heatwaves, droughts, floods, storm surges. 

• Slow-onset changes: climate warming, desertification, cryosphere melting, sea level rise, ocean acidification. 

• Indirect hazards: fires, landslides, air/water pollution, biological threats (e.g., disease outbreaks).

Exposure & vulnerability: Humans, ecosystems, infrastructure, socio-economic systems. 

Research outputs: Laboratory experiments, fieldwork, simulations, modeling, and data analysis. 

Digital services / Virtual Access (VA): Online datasets, climate models, virtual research environments, interactive tools, and demonstrators. 

Services address human, production, and natural systems, including urban/rural areas, mountains, coasts, forests, agro-ecosystems, aquaculture/fisheries, grasslands, shrublands, wetlands, and freshwater/marine environments. 

Yes. IRISCC actively promotes cross-disciplinarity: 

• Multidisciplinarity: Multiple disciplines contribute independently. 

• Interdisciplinarity: Integration of concepts/methods from multiple disciplines. 

• Transdisciplinarity: Creation of new frameworks that transcend disciplines, often involving stakeholders outside academia. 

Projects demonstrating cross-disciplinary collaboration may receive bonus evaluation points. 

IRISCC offers: 

• Sponsored access to 14 European research infrastructures. 

• Expertise across multiple disciplines, including environmental science, health, and social science. 

• Funding support for eligible researchers, including travel and subsistence for TA and Fast-Track projects. 

• Opportunities for cross-infrastructure, interdisciplinary, and cross-disciplinary research. 

All IRISCC services are listed in the Catalogue of Services. You can filter by: 

• Free text / keywords 

• Research Infrastructure 

• Scientific domain & subdomain 

• Country 

• System (human, natural, production) 

• Risk type 

Tip: Always consult the Catalogue before applying for TA or Fast-Track access, and contact the service provider to confirm technical feasibility and access mode.

• Research communities and networks 

• Policy makers and implementation agencies 

• EU project consortia 

• Commercial users 

Any individual or team from academia, government, civil society, or industry may apply, including applicants from outside Europe. Early-career researchers and those new to research infrastructures are especially encouraged. IRISCC actively promotes gender equality and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.

No strict limit exists, but feasibility must be confirmed with the service provider. Travel & subsistence reimbursement is capped at €2,000 per approved proposal. 

TA allows researchers to use IRISCC facilities in another country. Access is competitive, fully supported, and provided through scheduled Open Calls.

• On-Site Access: Conduct experiments, fieldwork, or work directly with facility experts. 

• Remote Access: Facility staff perform work on your behalf — no travel needed. 

• Hybrid Access: Combines on-site and remote work for flexible collaboration. 

VA provides immediate online access to digital services, datasets, models, and virtual research environments. No competitive application is required, but registration is needed to track usage. 

Fast-Track is a continuously open call providing priority access for: 

• Urgent scientific needs due to extreme events or sudden environmental changes. 

• Ukrainian researchers facing challenges due to the ongoing crisis. 

Apply during scheduled Open Calls via the IRISCC Submission Platform: 

1. Check the Service Catalogue – Identify the facility or service you need. 

1. Review the IRISCC Access Handbook – Guidance on eligibility, access types, and procedures. 

1. Contact the service provider – Confirm technical feasibility and access mode. 

1. Submit your proposal – Via the IRISCC Submission Platform linked from the service page. 

Steps are similar to the regular TNA process, but with emphasis on urgency. Fast-Track proposals are processed as soon as they arrive and are evaluated rapidly to ensure timely access (typically within 2-3 weeks).

Register on the VA platform. No competitive application is required. Once registered, you can immediately use digital tools, datasets, and models. 

Independent reviewers score proposals based on: 

• Scientific & technical relevance (0–30 points) 

• Novelty & innovation (0–10 points) 

• Quality of implementation (0–10 points) 

• Bonus: +5 points for multi-infrastructure or cross-disciplinary use 

Projects are ranked and selected based on score and resources. Only those meeting quality thresholds are accepted. 

Peer-review considers scientific/technical relevance, novelty, implementation quality, cross-disciplinary use, and multi-RI involvement. Final rankings are endorsed by the Executive Board. 

Yes. Cross-disciplinary proposals are actively promoted, and bonus points may be awarded during evaluation. 

Notification is typically within two months after the call’s closure. Projects are usually completed within one year, with extensions possible. 

Yes. Users must: 

• Submit a Post-Access Report 

• Acknowledge IRISCC in outputs 

• Disseminate non-confidential results (SMEs may request confidentiality) 

IRISCC provides support for travel and subsistence (up to €2,000 per proposal). Funding may be full or co-financed. Payments can be via reimbursement, centralized booking, or invoicing. Additional incentives may target early-career researchers, underrepresented regions, or fast-track users. We strongly advise applicants to contact the facility provider before booking any travel arrangements.

• Novelty & innovation (0–10 points) 

• Quality of implementation (0–10 points) 

• Bonus: +5 points for multi-infrastructure or cross-disciplinary use 

Projects are ranked and selected based on score and resources. Only those meeting quality thresholds are accepted. 

• TNA & Fast-Track: Access to services, installations, and expert support; travel & subsistence up to €2,000. Salaries are not not covered. 

• VA: Full access to digital services and datasets, free of charge. 

Yes. Proposals using multiple infrastructures are encouraged and receive bonus evaluation points.

Data ownership follows the RI’s and hosting facility’s policy and is clarified during the agreement phase.

Yes. Training and technical support are provided depending on the service and access mode. 

Yes. IRISCC provides pre-submission guidance on service selection, eligibility, feasibility and scientific preparation.