Luke’s Research Infrastructures Access Right and Availability Policy

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) will open up the research infrastructures in stages for national and international use during 2025 according to this policy.

Research and work in the field of natural resources needs various research facilities and data to be implemented. Luke has a wide range of research infrastructures enabling empirical, experimental and model-based research. In addition, Luke's research infrastructure services produce research data including long-term follow-up data, continuous observations, intensive experimental data and model results.  

The necessary research sites have been classified as research environment, infrastructure and platform. This structuring helps to outline Luke's research infrastructures and related services, and facilitates the long-term development and communication of research infrastructures. This structure is the basis for Luke's research infrastructure services and is used both for the description of research infrastructures and services and for the allocation of usage and costs. Luke's 2023 research infrastructure classification can be found in Annex 1. 

To support the implementation of national open science, the Delegation of the Finnish Union of Sciences, together with research organisations/stakeholders, has developed a national policy on the openness of research data, methods and infrastructures. This national policy also includes a recommendation for an action plan for 2021-2025. The strategic principle of the national policy is that research data, methods and infrastructures are managed, opened up and used in a responsible and appropriate manner. Researchers have access to infrastructures and services that enable responsible management of data and methods, and these are developed in a financially sustainable way, by taking into account the needs of researchers.

Research infrastructures and services are key tools to support and promote scientific openness and should be built on the basis of long-term plans. Open access to information on research infrastructures and their access right policies is part of the openness of research infrastructures. Researchers or research organisations should have the possibility to apply for access right to research infrastructure services through public calls. Promoting economically sustainable transparency means that the widest possible public has open access to publicly funded research infrastructures. 

In line with the national policy, the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) has the following policy:

Luke will open up the research infrastructures in stages for national and international use. Luke will ensure open access right to research infrastructure services and that access management is based on known access criteria and transparent access evaluation.

Principles for access and availability of Luke's research infrastructures:

• Luke's research infrastructures and platforms are easily discoverable and accessible.
• Luke's research infrastructure services are provided through a centralised service catalogue.
• Access right to Luke's research infrastructures is requested and managed through a centralized access management process and system.
• Access right is applied for and granted on the basis of pre-defined and known criteria.
• Luke reserves the right to cover the costs of using research infrastructure services (including data infrastructures) in accordance with general international and national practices.
• Luke adheres to and requires FAIR principles in the use of data infrastructures.
• The unit costs for the maintenance of research infrastructures and services are defined and justified.
• The use of Luke's research infrastructure services complies with legislation, other Luke policies and strategy.
• Luke provides research infrastructure services in a responsible manner, taking into account safety, security and sustainability of the environment as well as ethical and secular considerations.

RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, TYPES OF ACCESS AND FORMS OF ACCESS RIGHT

Access right to Luke's research infrastructure services can be applied on the basis of scientific research, for market-driven use, for statutory purposes or for technical maintenance and quality assurance. Access right within Luke is also applied through access management.

Luke's research infrastructure services divided by access type: 

• Physical (present) access, i.e. the user is given access right to the research infrastructure - or platform;
• Remote access, whereby the user makes a request for services and a Luke employee or employees perform the work on behalf of the user; or
• Virtual access, where access and associated use of the research infrastructure service is provided remotely in a virtual environment
• Hybrid access means a combination of all or some of the above forms of access.

The research infrastructure services provided by Luke are classified as:  

• Virtual Research Infrastructure Services, such as open data, processed data products, models, digital twins, computing services
• Research services focusing on research infrastructures and platforms enabling experimental research
• Development, innovation and expertise services for the private sector
• Technological and methodological quality management services, such as testing, calibration, method development services
• Training services for a wide range of users

Luke also provides statutory services, which have been separately agreed with the steering ministry.

The research infrastructure service always includes the equipment/machinery of the research platform and its operation, as well as technical staff.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY

The policy on the access right and availability of Luke's research infrastructure services will be implemented as described below.

"Research infrastructures and platforms are discoverable and accessible" and "Luke's research infrastructure services are provided through a service catalogue".

• Research infrastructures and platforms are described on Luke's website and research infrastructure services are presented in a service catalogue, which can be viewed and browsed on the Luke website. Research infrastructure service catalogue will also be linked to national and international research infrastructure service catalogues when possible.

"Access right to Luke's research infrastructures is applied for and managed through centralised process and management system"

• Users of research infrastructure services apply for access right by using the application form on the Luke website.
• The application form is used by both internal and external users.
• In the application the user describes and requests the desired service, the access right mode and the type of access.
• In the application the user describes the requested activity and related research, market, technological or governmental activity / project.
• Support is available for applicants for access right to RI services.

"Access right is applied for and granted on the basis of pre-defined and known criteria"

• Luke will develop a process for granting access and a set of criteria for granting or refusing access right.
• The criteria and related principles will be transparently available and applied in an equitable manner.
• Depending on the mode of use (research, market-driven, technological or statutory), the application will be processed through a mode-specific access rights process.
• Once access right is granted, the application (project) moves to operational implementation (access management), where resource allocation and scheduling of access right is confirmed.
• The maintenance data (institutional research infrastructure data) of research infrastructures and platforms are openly accessible and are not subject to the access right application process.

”Luke reserves the right to recover the costs of use of research infrastructures and research infrastructure services in accordance with FAIR principles and general international and national practices.” and “The unit costs for the maintenance of research infrastructures and services are defined and justified.” 

• The costs of maintaining and operating research infrastructures and platforms can be identified and allocated by using Luke's chart of accounts.
• For research platforms, the unit cost has been defined and the basis for calculation is available.
• The costs of operation are allocated in accordance with Luke's cost principles for the use of research infrastructures.
• The cost allocation is guided by general FAIR principles and national and international public funding policies. 

”The use of Luke's research infrastructure services complies with legislation, other Luke policies and strategy.” and “Luke provides research infrastructure services in a responsible manner via taking into account safety, security and sustainability of the environment.”

• Legislation and the policies developed by Luke (including data policy, information security policy, guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence) guide the activities of research infrastructures and platforms.
• We ensure occupational safety and user training in the use of research infrastructures and related services. Shared use of equipment requires good knowledge, support and a safe working approach.
• The training covers ethical and biosafety considerations.
• We operate our research infrastructures in accordance with the principles of responsibility and report on our activities in the annual Luke responsibility report.
• We ensure the environmentally friendly and sustainable use of research infrastructures. In experimental activities, we return the research platform back to maintenance mode.

GOVERNANCE, DECISION-MAKING AND DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES

• Luke's research infrastructures are managed by the Vice President of Unit with operational responsibility in accordance with the rules of procedure.
• The renewal and development work is steered by an internal steering group at Luke, mainly under the leadership of the Research Unit. The authority and expert process is represented in the steering group.
• Major upgrades of research infrastructures (construction projects) are decided by the Luke Steering Group, while administrative decisions are taken in accordance with the rules of procedure.  
• Each of Luke's research infrastructures has responsible person(s) for development and a group manager in the Research Infrastructure Services unit responsible for operations.
• Luke has established a five-year development plan for all research infrastructures, which is updated annually. The development plan guides the renewal of the research infrastructures, in particular as regards investments.
• Luke's research infrastructure services are developed in cooperation with national and international actors and networks.
• The partners identified for the development of research infrastructures may be research organisations, government representatives, companies, communities or funding organisations,.
• Luke will make possible use of joint services between the government and the national and European research community.

Luke's strategic research objectives require open and efficient use of research infrastructures and international networking. The continuous development of Luke's research infrastructures and related services will secure future research funding and ensure high-quality research environments in the future.
 

Research environment for Agriculture

Research infrastructure Ruukki

• Beef Cattle Barn
• Experimental fields for cultivation (arable crops, grassland and others)
• Drainage field (Rahkasuolohko)
• Leaching field
• Carbon flood EC research platform

Research infrastructure Maaninka

• Dairy barn - cow life cycle, grazing 
• Biogas plant and new energy solutions (separation plant)
• Carbon flood EC research platform Maaninka (EC+KHK carriers)
• Kirmajärvi catchment area
• Leaching field (Agrileach, LYSI)
• Experimental fields for cultivation (grassland and others)
• SIMU condition simulator, surface and groundwater infiltration

Research infrastructure for livestock research in Jokioinen

• Research Barn - feed use of cows in dairy production, metabolism, breeding and genetics (incl. embryo processing and feed mixing plant)
• Multifunctional research facility for livestock (broiler house and experimental animal house, future Intensive Unit)
• Biogas plant and new energy solutions (separation plant)

Research infrastructure for plant production in Jokioinen 

• Test platform for smart agriculture
• Organic plots
• Experimental fields for cultivation (arable crops, grassland and others)
• Fields of arable farming
• Permanent crop rotation and transformation test fields (arable crops, grasses and others)
• Drainage fields (Kotkanoja, Lintupaju, Toholampi, Yöni) 
• Peat field weather-compensated drainage field 
• Carbon flood research platform (EC greenhouse gas measurement Nummela)
• Biodiversity field (Ypäjä)
• Experimental platform for plant research (climate-controlled greenhouses, closed greenhouses)

Research environment for aquaculture production and technology

Research infrastructure Laukaa

• RAS and FREA: Research platform for production and aquaculture technologies (includes aquaculture and processing technologies)
• RAS-Content 
• Processing hall: processing families
• Sows' Hall
• Experimental hall (support laboratory)

Research infrastructure for marine aquaculture

• Parainen (inc. pre-)

Research environment for cultivated fish stocks

Research infrastructure Taivalkoski

• Fish egg hall (incl. insulation department)
• Brood production hall
• Sow fish hall (incl. pre-treatment and measurement facilities)

Research infrastructure Inari

• Fish egg hall (incl. insulation department)
• Brood production hall
• Sow fish hall 

Research infrastructure Enonkoski

• Fish egg hall (incl. insulation department)
• Brood production hall
• Sow fish hall (incl. pre-treatment and measurement rooms/support laboratory)
• Kuurna test platform

Research infrastructure Keminmaa 

• Fish egg production hall (incl. insulation department)
• Brood production hall
• Sow fish' hall + outdoor pools

Research environment for wild fish stocks

Research infrastructure Paltamo

• Hall: including experimental pools, support laboratory/pre-treatment and measurement facilities
• Outdoor pools: incl. Experimental pools
• Pond pools 

Research infrastructure for wild fish stocks

• Utsjoki River: boats and equipment on platform incl. Pre-treatment and measurement facilities
• Inari: pre-treatment and measurement facilities for otoliths and scales
• Viikki: Pre-treatment and measurement facilities for otoliths and scales
• Merihaka Helsinki: boats and equipment on board
• Oulu: boats and equipment on board
• Vaasa: boats and equipment on board
• Lammi: boats and equipment on board
• Kolari: boats and equipment on board

Research environment for plant and horticulture

Research infrastructure Suonenjoki 

• Seedling research greenhouse
• Plastic seedling greenhouses and outdoor nurseries, as well as a maturing field and other open-air test fields
• Experimental platform: cold testing chambers, growth chambers, measuring and pre-treatment rooms
• Seedling stress field

Research infrastructure Piikkiö 

• Research greenhouses including support laboratory
• Open-air fields incl. greenhousing research field
• VIS platform: a platform for fully controlled growing conditions

Research infrastructure Haapastensyrjä 

• Seed center 
• Research greenhouse and controlled growing areas
• Plastic greenhouses and growing tunnels
• Open air fields
• Germplasm collection area

Research infrastructure Savonlinna

• Greenhouse (growth2) incl. Measuring and pre-treatment facilities
• Punkaharju (Kotila) seedling nursery

Research environment for forest

Research Infrastructure in Ränskälänkorpi 

Research Forests 

• Ruotsinkylä, Parkano, Vilppula, Kivalo, Punkaharju, Kolari, Lapinjärvi, Solböle, Muhos, Pallas, Suonenjoki, Kannus, Vesijako

Other platforms

• Rovaniemi Lustolaboratory (pre-treatment and measurement room)
• Viikki Lustolaboratory (pre-treatment and measurement room)
• Joensuu Lustolaboratory (pre-treatment and measurement room)
• Kannus Pre-treatment and measurement facility
• Parkano Pre-treatment and measurement facility