Through the 4-year project SERIES (Seismic Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies) of the 7th Framework Programme for Research (2007-2013), the European Community brought together Europe's research infrastructures in structural and geotechnical earthquake engineering into a seamless and sustainable platform of co-operation and outreach to Europe’s community of science, technology and practice in earthquake engineering to share their experimental capabilities and the fruits of their research. It also helps them to enhance their potential, by jointly developing novel seismic testing systems and techniques, e.g., a novel hybrid actuation system in which a high capacity electric actuator improves the high-frequency fidelity of a servo-hydraulic one; novel instrumentation, data processing and modelling to support of seismic testing and advanced experimental techniques for soil Soil-Structure-Interaction studies, including Fast Hybrid Testing.