Final Report Summary - LASERLAB-EUROPE CONT (European laser laboratories integrated initiative continued)
LASERLAB-EUROPE exists as an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative (I3) since FP6 and combines the majority of the largest national laboratories in the area of laser-based inter-disciplinary research at the European level. Participants of the original FP6 project and the present 15-month continuation are 17 laser infrastructures from 9 European countries, including new EU Member States. Together they represent a comprehensive collection of modern laser technologies and laser research, and pursue applications in sciences and life sciences through in-house research and services to the relevant communities. They are complemented within the consortium by selected laboratories with special expertise and equipment which are crucial for the further development of the field.
At the beginning of FP7 the consortium was granted a 15-months continuation project called LASERLAB-EUROPE CONT allowing for an uninterrupted provision of access opportunities for the scientific community and a continued networking and cooperation among the laser research infrastructures for the effective and competitive exploitation and development of European resources.
The networking activities had a vital structuring effect in the LASERLAB-EUROPE consortium by fostering cooperation, best practices and exchanges. Successful series of workshops for scientific and technological exchanges as well as for strategic issues addressing the development of laser infrastructures and research were complemented by tools and programmes for inner and outer communication and information exchange. The networking activities largely helped to boost the efficiency of research and development within the consortium and for the benefit of the users' community. Their community-forming effect was also vital for the establishment of two major ESFRI laser projects, the first international laser infrastructures worldwide.
The transnational access activities in LASERLAB-EUROPE are fully integrated under a single structure with one unique entry point for requesting access and a single external selection panel which controls the scientific quality. The concept of 'dynamic access' made it possible to provide about 850 access days to more than 180 users over the duration of the contract being considerably more than initially proposed (17 % and 49 %, respectively), while it ensured individual flexibility to the 15 host facilities in their response to user demands. LASERLAB-EUROPE considers this a very satisfactory success of the internal access implementation policy, which would not have been possible without close monitoring and thoughtful steering by the access board.
The users who gain access to an extremely stimulating scientific environment to pursue multidisciplinary programmes of high-quality research seem to appreciate the access offers and the implementation rather highly. This became apparent during the annual users' meeting and it is supported by the continuous evaluation of LASERLAB-EUROPE's internal user questionnaire. A large number of publications resulting from the LASERLAB access programme underpins the scientific success of the access activity.
The successful cooperation of the project partners and extensive networking efforts between LASERLAB-EUROPE and potential new partner infrastructures in the new Member States with the goal of their full integration into the network in FP7 resulted in a substantially enlarged and reshaped consortium in FP7, reflecting the growth of the European Union from 15 to 27 Member States.
At the beginning of FP7 the consortium was granted a 15-months continuation project called LASERLAB-EUROPE CONT allowing for an uninterrupted provision of access opportunities for the scientific community and a continued networking and cooperation among the laser research infrastructures for the effective and competitive exploitation and development of European resources.
The networking activities had a vital structuring effect in the LASERLAB-EUROPE consortium by fostering cooperation, best practices and exchanges. Successful series of workshops for scientific and technological exchanges as well as for strategic issues addressing the development of laser infrastructures and research were complemented by tools and programmes for inner and outer communication and information exchange. The networking activities largely helped to boost the efficiency of research and development within the consortium and for the benefit of the users' community. Their community-forming effect was also vital for the establishment of two major ESFRI laser projects, the first international laser infrastructures worldwide.
The transnational access activities in LASERLAB-EUROPE are fully integrated under a single structure with one unique entry point for requesting access and a single external selection panel which controls the scientific quality. The concept of 'dynamic access' made it possible to provide about 850 access days to more than 180 users over the duration of the contract being considerably more than initially proposed (17 % and 49 %, respectively), while it ensured individual flexibility to the 15 host facilities in their response to user demands. LASERLAB-EUROPE considers this a very satisfactory success of the internal access implementation policy, which would not have been possible without close monitoring and thoughtful steering by the access board.
The users who gain access to an extremely stimulating scientific environment to pursue multidisciplinary programmes of high-quality research seem to appreciate the access offers and the implementation rather highly. This became apparent during the annual users' meeting and it is supported by the continuous evaluation of LASERLAB-EUROPE's internal user questionnaire. A large number of publications resulting from the LASERLAB access programme underpins the scientific success of the access activity.
The successful cooperation of the project partners and extensive networking efforts between LASERLAB-EUROPE and potential new partner infrastructures in the new Member States with the goal of their full integration into the network in FP7 resulted in a substantially enlarged and reshaped consortium in FP7, reflecting the growth of the European Union from 15 to 27 Member States.
