LASERLAB EUROPE II officially launched

The Inauguration Ceremony was held at ICFO, Barcelona. Professor Lluis Torner, Director of the Institute of Photonic Science ICFO, hosted the event. The importance and European dimension of the project have been emphasized in addresses given by Dr Montserrat Torné, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Mr Ramon Moreno Amich, Director General for Research of the Government of Catalonia and Mr Herve Pero Head of Unit Research Infrastructure of the European Commission. The event was also attended by Professor Andreu Mas-Colell, next ERC Secretary General, who kindly agreed to give the after dinner speech during the reception and dinner event on the evening of 27th of March.

 >>> Photo Gallery of the Event

"LASERLAB-EUROPE has started in 2003 as a Consortium of 17 laser infrastructures from 9 European countries. By now many more countries - with our host Spain being among the leaders - have recognized the necessity of establishing new laser research infrastructures to help meeting the scientific, industrial and societal challenges of the 21st century. LASERLAB-EUROPE responds by expanding to new dimensions, both geographically and scientifically. We are proud to launch today the Consortium within the 7th Framework Programme with 26 partners from 16 European countries, thus helping to maintain Europe's leading role in this extremely dynamic research area. Professor Wolfgang Sandner, Coordinator LASERLAB-EUROPE, Director, Max Born Institute Berlin
Dr Montserrat Torné Director General for International Cooperation Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Government of Spain “This network of excellence, which brings together the leading laboratories, will enable Europe to lead laser research and technology. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and to encourage the opening of national infrastructures to other countries”.	Mr Ramon Moreno Amich Director General for Research Government of Catalonia “Our Government promotes all types of transnational cooperation, a topic so well addressed by LaserLab Europe.”	Mr Herve Pero Head of Unit: Research Infrastructure Directorate B - European Research Area: research programmes and capacity Directorate General Research "Research Infrastructures are not only at the roots but are also the future of Europe. Supported by sixteen countries’ institutions, LASERLAB paves the way towards the development of an efficient ‘eco-system’ of Research Infrastructures in Europe. This is a major challenge, not so much scientific but mainly managerial and political..."
"It is a great honor to be a member of LASERLAB"                                                                   Professor Lluis Torner Director, The Institute of Photonic Science ICFO Barcelona

 

 From March 2009, LASERLAB-EUROPE is starting the second phase of its successful cooperation in new shape: the Consortium will become much larger, involving 26 Laser Research Infrastructures from  16 European member states. We welcome new partners in Spain, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Latvia as well as associate partners in Bulgaria, Austria and Denmark. 20 facilities will offer Access to their labs for European research teams. Given the importance of lasers and their applications in all areas of sciences, life sciences and technologies, the main objectives of the Consortium are:

	To form a competitive, inter-disciplinary network of European national laser laboratories;
	To strengthen the European leading role in laser research through Joint Research Activities (JRA), pushing the laser concept into new directions and opening up new applications of key importance;
	To engage in the Transnational Access Programme in a co-ordinated fashion for the benefit of the European research community, providing about 1100 days of access per year for European researchers.
	To increase the European basis in laser research and applications by reaching out to neighboring scientific communities and by assisting the development of Laser Research Infrastructures on both the national and the European level.