Short-term R&D projects

Call for proposals for Lasers4EU Short-term R&D projects

Lasers4EU invites all members of Lasers4EU and Laserlab-Europe AISBL to submit proposals for the first call for joint Short-term R&D projects, an activity organised under the Work Package 4 “Cross-facility services”. All members of the Lasers4EU consortium (access providing partners or partners affiliated to Laserlab-Europe AISBL and ELI ERIC) are eligible to apply.

The objectives of the consortium for this call are:

1. to improve the user-friendliness of the tools offered.
2. to expand the range of instruments available to users.

Proposals may include, but are not limited to, the example developments listed below and should be financially supported by the participating labs. Lasers4EU will co-fund up to max. 8 k€ per project for consumables and travel only. Personnel costs will not be reimbursed by Lasers4EU and will be considered as co-funding by the participating labs.

 Examples of developments for Objective 1:

• Simplified data acquisition interfaces
• Procedures to more accurately characterize the experimental conditions, in order to improve data replicability, reproducibility and reusability
• Standardized diagnostics or detectors
• Common calibration tools
• Automated acquisition systems, for automatic production of FAIR-compatible data or facilitation of remote access

Examples of developments for Objective 2:

• Non-linear optical devices capable of generating laser wavelengths not previously available
• Closed-loop laser beam stabilization subsystem versatile enough to be implemented in various facilities
• Shareable ultra-short-pulse laser diagnostic tools – for e.g. pulse contrast or carrier envelope phase – not yet commercially available
• Any portable device (for instance for post-pulse compression) to be used for joint experiments

Guidelines for proposals

• The Short-term R&D projects should be completed within 2 years after approval.
• Compliance with open access is mandatory: The project’s partners must commit themselves to make technical drawings, procedures and software free to use
• Deadline for proposals: 28 February 2025
• Proposals may be brief but have to contain the following information:

• Proposal title
• List of partners and contacts
• Proposal description and timeline (up to 250 words)
• Description of the planned impact of the short-term R&D project
• Estimation of costs

Selection of proposals

The Activity Board will select proposals based on:

• Alignment with stated objectives
• Technical and operational maturity of the solutions described in the proposal
• Cost efficiency (co-funding)
• Identification of sustainable impact that can easily be tracked

Proposals should be sent by email to calls@lasers4.eu.

For further information, please contact Neide Pedro pedro@laserlab-europe.eu