The long-life laser lab
Laserlab-Europe has brought together most of Europe's largest national laboratories in the area of laser-based research that affects many disciplines. Together with key European laboratories they have offered modern laser technologies and laser research related to sciences and life sciences. In all, Laserlab-Europe combined 17 laser infrastructures from 9 European countries and new EU Member States. In the Sixth Framework Programme, Laserlab-Europe was very successful in its mandate to advance laser technology and bring its useful applications to many fields. With the project 'European Laser Laboratories Integrated Initiative Continued' (Laserlab-Europe cont), the EU built on this success for 15 more months, allowing uninterrupted access to opportunities for the scientific community well into the Seventh Framework Programme. This renewal brought with it continued networking and cooperation among the laser research infrastructures, leading to effective and competitive exploitation of laser potential. Laserlab-Europe cont worked hard on fostering cooperation, best practices and exchanges within the laser community. It hosted several workshops for scientific and technological exchanges as well as for strategic issues addressing the development of laser infrastructures. This was coupled with numerous communication initiatives on the laser lab and the opportunities it offers. The networking activities largely helped boost the efficiency of research and development within the consortium of 17 partners. They were also vital for the establishing two major laser projects under the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), the first international laser infrastructures worldwide. The project has also facilitated access to researchers through its transnational access activities, involving the concept of dynamic access: this made it possible to provide about 850 days of access to the infrastructure to more than 180 users during its lifetime. Surveys showed that users of the infrastructure were very satisfied at being able to access Laserlab-Europe and its facilities. The large number of publications resulting from the access programme highlight the scientific success emerging from increased access and life of the project. In addition, successful cooperation of project partners and extensive networking efforts between Laserlab-Europe and partner infrastructures from new Member States resulted in a substantially enlarged and reshaped consortium in FP7. The growth of the European Union from 15 to 27 Member States was duly reflected through Laserlab-Europe cont, a success story on all counts.
