Design of the scaffold of the camps.
According to the stakeholders’ input that was gathered though the working groups (Industry, Academia, Entrepreneurs & Innovators, Students & Researchers and Diversity) during 7 different collaborative workshops, the CARLA camps were held over 1.5 – 3 days. The details of the format and timing were left to the organising institutions, so that these could adapt to the local potential restrictions. To maximize audience engagement and encourage interaction the individual programme sessions were kept short and there were many panel interactive events instead of individual talks. Following the core elements that were identified for the CARLA camps, the programme of the events included the following sessions: (1) About Photonics - information about the field as a whole from the perspectives of research, markets and applications; (2) Career Development – glimpse into the range of professional options in photonics and potential career development paths and skills to develop; (3) Innovation and Entrepreneurship – sessions to promote them; (4) Professional Growth – facilitate the development of personal networks and foster career development; (5) Diversity – to be normalized and promoted in all aspects of the camps
Implementation of camps
CARLA organized 13 camps and 8 capsules across Europe in different as response to the COVID-19 pandemic (in person, online or hybrid). More than 2000 participants, 200 speakers, 250 academic institutions, and 375 companies were engaged in the project, contributing to its success. The camps, for the second reporting period, were organized by ICFO in Barcelona (29-30 November - 1 December 2021), by VUB in Brussels (22-24 March 2022), by PS in Stockholm (11-12 May 2022), by POLIMI in Milan (13-14 May 2022), by TUD in Delft (31 May - 1 June 2022), by MBI in Berlin (27-28 June 2022), by PA in Graz (21-23 September 2022), by IOGS in Bordeaux (27-28 September 2022), by ILC in Bratislava (11-13 October 2022), by VSLP in Lausanne (17-18 November 2022) and by ICFO in Barcelona (1-2 December 2022).
Dissemination of the project
A distinctive logo, visual identity, website and materials were developed to disseminate information about the project and promote the camps. The CARLA website was used to disseminate the project to the target audiences, stakeholders, potential replicators, to the public at large and to policy makers. Periodic updates and news were added to the page, in addition to dates and information about the camps. The CARLA project was also present on LinkedIn and Instagram, ECOP Twitter where original content and relevant news and events were shared on a weekly basis. In addition, dissemination efforts were made through the partners’ institutional channels.
