The European Commission has decided to finance a broader access to the Station to a wider international community, with priority going to scientists, to the SMEs, with priority given to the new EU Member States (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) and the two acceding ones (Bulgaria and Romania).
Traditionally, the opportunity to perform research on-board the ISS was limited to Users from those European countries that are Member States of ESA and are directly funding the development, operation and utilisation of the ISS.
The project SURE (The ISS: a Unique REsearch Infrastructure ) developed by ESA, will give scientists and SMEs the chance to access a unique European Research Infrastructure. The areas coverered by this project correspond to the multiple facets of life and physical sciences, from renowned areas (Human Physiology; Biology; Material Sciences; Fluid Interface and Combustion Physics; Fundamental Physics; and Exobilogy) to emerging ones (nanotechnologies; quantum physics; health; and food).
