The pan-European optical fibre research infrastructure FOREST has been officially accepted onto the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Roadmap 2026, marking a major milestone for the initiative and its participating countries.
FOREST is a rapidly expanding research infrastructure built on more than 30,000 km of optical fibre networks across Europe. Connected through national metrology networks and GÉANT, it supports advanced research and innovation in fibre sensing, precision timing and synchronisation, and quantum communication.
Ireland is playing a key role in the initiative, with Trinity College Dublin and ADAPT’s Marco Ruffini coordinating the national FOREST consortium. Irish partners include the National Standards Authority of Ireland (David Fleming), Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (Chris Bean), South East Technological University (Deirdre Kilbane), and Asiera (Eoin Kenny).
The project aligns closely with Ireland’s OpenIreland infrastructure and ongoing fibre sensing activities within the IRIS Network AI & Sensing Group, including SeaScan, SUSTAINET, and ICON. FOREST also complements Ireland’s EuroQCI ambitions, with SETU leading national efforts in the development of secure quantum communication networks.
Participation in FOREST provides a significant opportunity to develop Ireland’s national fibre sensing network while connecting directly to a Europe-wide infrastructure from the outset. Beyond its scientific impact, the initiative is expected to enhance national capabilities in monitoring critical infrastructure, environmental systems, and security, positioning Ireland at the forefront of emerging optical fibre technologies.
