Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: A Perspective on Planning for the End of a Facility

Authors

  • Hristo-P Boyadzhiev Centre for Innovation Policy, Osogovo Institute of Advanced Technology, Kyustendil, Bulgaria Author
  • Anders-Kristian Isdahl Centre for Technology Foresight, Nordmore Centre for Emerging Materials, Kristiansund, Norway Author
  • Gerlinde-M Gollner Department of Skills and Workforce Studies, Wechselland Centre for Emerging Materials, Friedberg, Austria Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22674655

Keywords:

Research Infrastructure Decommissioning; Next-generation R&D; Evidence synthesis; Reproducibility; Research methodology

Abstract

Research Infrastructure Decommissioning has moved quickly from a niche engineering question to something a wider community
can now investigate with reasonably reliable tools, but the evidence behind it has not always kept pace. We pull together the
current evidence for research infrastructure decommissioning, covering the methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles,
with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where engineers and reviewers are still largely working it out for
themselves. Selective, context-specific adoption looks better supported by the evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or
blanket avoidance.

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Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a comparative analysis". Joule 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1896184

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a pilot demonstration". Energy & Environmental Science 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15162117

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a longitudinal field study". ACS Nano 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.4103/jrpp.jrpp_20_65

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a feasibility study". Advanced Energy Materials 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1763884

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a case study". Applied Physics Letters 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.2196/48297

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a meta-analysis". Journal of Applied Physics 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.1007/s00330-025-12031-z

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a cross-platform survey". IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1699005

Jankowiak G, Grabowski J, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a methods-comparison study". IEEE Spectrum 46(2023): 509-518. DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1834800

Kowalczyk N, Novotna K, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a benchmark study". Nature Communications 8(2014): 520-530. DOI: 10.2196/69678

Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a systematic review". Science Robotics 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46454

Marchetti D, Doncheva M, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a comparative analysis". Additive Manufacturing 12(2020): 542-554. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107028

Novotna E, Eriksdottir N, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a pilot demonstration". Acta Materialia 14(2023): 553-566. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Ostrowski L, Lindqvist O, et al. "Research Infrastructure Decommissioning: a longitudinal field study". npj Computational Materials 16(2014): 564-578. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

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Published

2026-09-12