On 30 April 2021, the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) was granted the legal status of European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) by the European Commission. ELI ERIC will provide access to world-class high power and ultra-fast lasers for science and enable cutting-edge research in physical, chemical, materials, and medical sciences, as well as breakthrough technological innovations.
The ERIC is a specific legal form designed to facilitate the establishment and operation of Research Infrastructures of European interest. ERICs are participated by States and international organisations as members. As a main statutory mission, ELI ERIC is responsible for making the ELI Facilities available to the scientific community as a single international organisation, with unified governance and management.
The
Czech Republic hosts the ELI ERIC statutory seat in Dolní Břežany, in the South of Prague, at the ELI Beamlines Facility. A second Facility, ELI ALPS, is hosted by
Hungary in Szeged. The Czech Republic and Hungary are joined by
Italy and
Lithuania as Founding Members,
Bulgaria transitioned to be a full Member as of 1 January 2025, while
Germany holds an Observer status. A third ELI Facility is operating
in
Romania which was accepted as a Founding Observer in ELI ERIC from 1 January 2024. Most recently,
Montenegro and
Slovakia joined ELI ERIC as Observers in March 2026.
The ELI ERIC is tasked with enabling scientists to access the state-of-the-art lasers at the ELI Facilities. Access is open for all scientists and based on proposals evaluated by an independent panel.
The
decision by the European Commission and the
ERIC statutes
from 2021 are publicly available in the EU Official Journal.
The most recent amendments to the ELI ERIC Statutes came into effect on 8 October 2025, and the consolidated amended version is available for preview
HERE.
Key policies and other documents
ELI ERIC Gender Equality Plan (2022-2026)
Information on the protection of whistleblowers
General Assembly and Appointed Representatives
On 16 June 2021, the first General Assembly of ELI ERIC was held with delegates and experts from each member and observer country. Allen Weeks, former Director General of ELI DC (Delivery Consortium, an international non-profit association that supported the coordinated implementation of the ELI research facilities) was appointed the Director General of ELI ERIC. The Chair of the General Assembly is Jan Hrušák.
