The Czech Republic has a long and remarkably impressive history of research and development in the field of high-power, short-pulse lasers. As a reflection of this, the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) supported the location of one pillar of the pan-European Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project ELI-Beamlines in Dolní Břežany south of Prague under the auspices of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Republic. ELI Beamlines has been developed over the last few years using combined funding of structural funds (85%) and money from MEYS (15%) (Ministry for Education, Youth and Sports, www.msmt.cz) with an overall value of 278 Mio Euros. The building for this new facility has been completed and the envisaged high repetition rate lasers with unprecedented capabilities came online during the CHAMPP Phase 1 and are now starting to drive various beamlines and experimental areas.
“The primary mission of the ELI Beamline Facility will consist of producing an entirely new generation of secondary sources driven by ultra-intense lasers. These secondary sources will produce pulses of radiation and particles such as flashes of X-rays and gamma-rays, bunches of accelerated electrons, protons and ions, etc., exploitable as unprecedented research tools in many research disciplines and in the development of new technologies.”
While the Czech Republic has a strong background in photonics it is still in the process of catching up with more established Member States in terms of research and Innovation performance as well as excellence in science and technology. Therefore, it is vital that ELI-Beamlines acts now to address the gaps in scientific profile, innovation performance, and industrial engagement that exist between it and more established facilities in higher performing Member States.
The Czech Hamburg Advanced Medical Photonics Project, CHAMPP proposes to significantly advance the initial capabilities of ELI Beamlines by providing tools with internationally unprecedented features in the softer and hard X-ray regions for applications, in particular but not restricted to medical imaging. Additionally, it aims to establish new capabilities for education and interaction with industry. Together these activities will increase innovation performance and allow for direct economic impact. This significant step forward will prepare the ground for securing the excellence and competitiveness of ELI Beamlines and natural science research in the Czech Republic. The proposed development is based on knowledge and expertise built up over recent years through a close cooperation with the University of Hamburg and the Helmholtz Centre DESY in the field of laser-driven and synchrotron-based photon science and applications thereof.
The Project to upgrade the ELI Beamlines Centre of Excellence will be delivered in two Stages. Stage 1 Coordination and Support action (CSA) relates to the production and submission of the Widespread Teaming Business Plan for the upgrade of the technologies and educational and innovation capabilities of ELI Beamlines. Stage 2 will deliver and then operate these upgrades, and establish the structures for education and innovation support.
Stage 1 has been completed and the business plan produced covers the following topics:
• Conceptual design of the Free Electron Laser and Medical Imaging Beamline in consultation with potential users in academia and industry
• Market Analysis of the economic potential for new technologies developed as a part of the CHAMPP project
• Development of the curriculum and statutory requirements for the CHAMPP Graduate School in consultation with Czech Universities
• Conceptual development of the CHAMPP Open Innovation Laboratory
• Production of the Business plan
