Representatives from the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), the Spanish Center for Pulsed Lasers (CLPU), industry and the scientific community from both Portugal and Spain gathered to collectively explore collaboration opportunities with ELI ERIC. A partnership with ELI ERIC has the potential to strengthen the internationalisation of the national research infrastructures and increases the competitiveness of Portugal and Spain on a global level.
Both countries have a long-standing history with ELI, which is reflected in the existing interactions between ELI and the Iberian partners, IST and CLPU. The goal of activities like this Iberian Information Day is to inform, build and expand the scientific community to establish a foundation for a potential future Portuguese and Spanish membership in ELI ERIC. The activity is supported by IMPULSE, a Horizon2020 funded project with the objective to quickly and effectively provide users with one single, high-quality access point to the ELI facilities by addressing the key scientific, technical, organisational, and management requirements of such as transition, building user communities and expanding the ELI member consortium.
The second half of the day continuing with presentations on possibilities for industrial participation by Industrial Liasion Officer for CERN, ESRF, IFR of the Agencia Nacional de Inovaçao, José Antão, and Director of the Spanish Platform of Industry and Technology for Big Science Infrastructures, Erik Fernández. Summaries of current national activities in education and training in both Portugal and Spain were presented by the Vice Chair of the ELI ERIC ISTAC and IST Prof. Marta Fajardo and Laser Plasma – Chair, Director USAL at CLPU, Prof. Luca Volpe, respectively.