The first step toward the creation of a consistent list of Key Performance Indicators for the future DANUBIUS-RI was taken in Bucharest, on the 18th and 19th of October. KPIs shall enable the benchmarking of the research infrastructure´s performance during its whole operation. The team, gathered in the headquarters of GeoEcoMar, discussed the best way to proceed within a landscape where the derivation of KPIs for European Research Infrastructures is rapidly changing.  Building on best practice, the team elaborated on an initial set of relevant KPIs for DANUBIUS-RI, concerning scientific excellence, and social and economic impact. The main outcome was the production of a list of almost 60 KPIs which received an initial scoring for prioritisation.  The second phase of benchmarking the key KPIs will begin following feedback from the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures workshop on monitoring KPIs in November this year.