The Swedish Research Council (VR) maintains a long term plan of Research infrastructures of national interest, intended to form the basis of excellent research with significant long term societal impact in the country. The funding for research infrastructures is managed through open calls focusing on particular application areas, and forms part of the research budget provided by the Swedish government to VR. The calls put great emphasis on the planning of proposals at the national level, so that efforts within the country are coordinated, and on coordination with international efforts, so as to ensure synergies at the national and at the European level.