EuPRAXIA-PP will prepare the implementation of the EuPRAXIA RI by developing the legal, financial and organisational frameworks required for a distributed, open-access research infrastructure.
In the long term, EuPRAXIA aims to establish the scientific and technological foundations upon which a new market, and therefore a new industrial leadership for non-RF-based accelerators, could emerge, characterized by a much shorter length and possibly a cost representing only a fraction of what RF-based accelerators cost. New use cases include compact X-ray machines that are easily positioned for inspection of bridges, cargo or security, diagnosing nano-cracks deep inside novel materials, time-resolved medical imaging with high spatial resolution, tools for studying bacteria and viruses. In other words, EuPRAXIA is ultimately expected to boost the expertise of the European scientific communities.
In addition the progress towards ultra-compact and more cost-effective accelerators and applications, which is in EuPRAXIA’s core mission, will lower the entry barrier for accelerator-assisted research, allowing access to research groups and countries typically not making use of particle accelerators.
EuPRAXIA is expected to contribute to several of the grand societal challenges:
Health, demographic change and well-being: through advancing medical imaging and through providing capabilities for science studies on viruses like SARS-CoV-2, on multi-resistant bacteria and on drug development. Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research, and the Bioeconomy: through advanced and mobile X-ray (nano-pollution of plants) and sterilization techniques. Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials: through advanced material imaging techniques, such as for example compact,
deeply penetrating positron annihilation spectroscopy for nm-scale fatigue investigations.
Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies: through securing high-tech expertise and a job base, attracting and training young generations in transformative and ground-breaking technology developments, building on and defending world-leading laser expertise in Europe. Secure societies - protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens: through mobile X-ray techniques with superior resolution via the point-like emission of X-rays (small emission length in plasma undulators).
A substantial Socio-economic impact is also expected through training of specialized technicians, engineers and scientists. Until 2032, we estimate 200 PhD students (FTEs) involved, with 33 degrees per year produced.
