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Innovation Fostering in Accelerator Science and Technology

Project description

Keeping Europe at the forefront of fundamental particle physics

Delivering huge amounts of energy into tiny volumes of matter at subatomic scale, particle accelerators allow particle physicists to penetrate into the heart of matter. The by-products of these activities boast many applications (from fundamental science to applied science, medicine and industry). But particle accelerators face challenges related to the size and performance of future facilities for fundamental research, the increasing demands from accelerators for applied science, and the growing applications in medicine and industry. In this context, the EU-funded I.FAST project will map out and facilitate the development of breakthrough technologies common to multiple accelerator platforms. It will contribute to the construction of the next generation of accelerator-based research infrastructures.

Objective

Particle accelerators are a key asset of the European Research Area. Their use spans from the large installations devoted to fundamental science to a wealth of facilities providing X-ray or neutron beams to a wide range of scientific disciplines. Beyond scientific laboratories, their use in medicine and industry is rapidly growing.
Notwithstanding their high level of maturity, particle accelerators are now facing critical challenges related to the size and performance of the facilities envisaged for the next step of particle physics research, to the increasing demands to accelerators for applied science, and to the specific needs of societal applications.
In this crucial moment for accelerator evolution, I.FAST aims at enhancing innovation in and from accelerator-based Research Infrastructures (RI) by developing innovative breakthrough technologies common to multiple accelerator platforms, and by defining strategic roadmaps for future developments. I.FAST will focus the technological R&D on long-term sustainability of accelerator-based research, with the goal of developing more performant and affordable technologies, and of reducing power consumption and impact of accelerator facilities, thus paving the way to a sustainable next-generation of accelerators. By involving industry as a co-innovation partner via the 17 industrial companies in the Consortium, 12 of which SME’s, I.FASTwill generate and maintain an innovation ecosystem around the accelerator-based RIs that will sustain the long-term evolution of accelerator technologies in Europe.
To achieve its goals, I.FAST will explore new alternative accelerator concepts and promote advanced prototyping of key technologies. These include, among others, techniques to increase brightness and reduce dimensions of synchrotron light sources, advanced superconducting technologies to produce higher fields with lower consumption, and strategies and technologies to improve energy efficiency.

Call for proposal

H2020-INFRAINNOV-2019-2020

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-INFRAINNOV-2020-2

Coordinator

ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLEAIRE
Net EU contribution
€ 2 975 837,50
Address
ESPLANADE DES PARTICULES 1 PARCELLE 11482 DE MEYRIN BATIMENT CADASTRAL 1046
1211 Meyrin
Switzerland

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Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Genève
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost
€ 2 975 837,50

Participants (50)