Network between world-leading Cluster of large-scale Research Infrastructure of Photon and Neutron Sources and Users fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region

Programme 2007 - 2013 Baltic Sea Region

Date of latest update: 2021-04-06

Description

Description (EN):

Strong cooperation in the scientific area is needed in the Baltic Sea region in order to ensure the competitiveness of the region. There is a new cluster of large-scale research infrastructure (Lund, Hamburg, Berlin and Geesthacht as EU countries and Gachina in Russia) and some more are planned or already under construction (the European XFEL in Hamburg, ESS and Max IV in Lund, Solaris in Krakow). In the Science Link project, structures for cooperation were established in order to allow companies from all Baltic Sea States access to the research infrastructures. As well supporting structures had to be built up as SME do not have their own research departments or measurement experts. Almost no sufficient and tailored information existed about possibilities available at the RIs and how they could be used by commercial users. Therefore, Science Link published case studies from the measurements carried out by the participating companies during the project. Partners in the Science Link project were the 4 already existing large-scale infrastructures in the EU states in the BS region, scientific partners and regional development agencies. This partner constellation was necessary for the success of the project; the regional development agencies advertised the project and contacted the companies.The universities consulted, accompanied and supported the companies before, during and after the measurements. For this reason Industrial Liason Officers were employed at the RIs (who know best the offer of the different RIs and supported and assisted the companies) and at the other scientific partner institutions in order to help and inform companies in their national languages. The RI in Russia were an associated partner as well as the future RIs XFEL, ESS and Solaris. In order to develop a structure for this kind of cooperation, the regional development agencies established contact points for informing companies but also for analysing regional needs for cooperation between companies, mainly SMEs, and RIs. Additionally there was a political goal to establish structures for this kind of cooperation and also to establish funding structures. Good examples about how structural funds can be used for scientific transnational cooperation exist e.g. from Estonia. In two studies, carried out within the project, the results and recommendations confirmed the experience in the project: SMEs should be supported, in this kind of cooperation, e.g. by the regions, as it brings direct benefit (better products, better competitiveness) to the regions. To ensure that the cooperation continues after the project and that also the political goals are further followed, 14 partners out of 17 signed a letter of intent and a permanent Science Link network was established. The partners also formulated recommendations regarding the continuation of the SL offer. Additionally four institutions have already applied for membership in the network.

Achievements (EN):

After Science Link was established a first call for companies was published. The companies were offered free measurement time in the large-scale research infrastructures. Even if the planning was very fast and real information campaigns could not be carried out, there were 9 applications by companies of which 7 were approved. That was a good beginning and the ILOs (industrial liason officers) at the RI and also the other partner countries started their work immediately in supporting the companies and starting with preparations for the measurements. The ILOs were employed at an early stage and trained in all participating RIs in order to be able to support the companies and to act between the companies and the measurement experts at the RIs. In the frame of the 2nd call, published in the autumn 2012, already 21 companies applied for beamtime and 18 applications were accepted. In the 3rd and last call published in spring 2013, 36 applications were received. 24 companies were already accepted and 8 are having consultation. In total 49 companies were accepted for measurements, 9 are in consultation and 8 were rejected. 30 companies have carried out their measurements in one of the participating RIs. The applications came from a broad variety of branches and 70% of the companies are SMEs. The project team has succesfully presented and promoted the project at different conferences and fairs nationally and internationally as well as in individual consultations with stakeholders. The High Level Group had its 2nd meeting in October 2013 and talked mainly about the continuation of the Science Link services after March 2014. The regional advisory groups were established and meetings took place in 2013. Preparations for the final conference, to be held on 27 February in Hamburg, Germany, were started. A concept was prepared and first speakers were contacted. The discussions on a letter of intent for the future of SL were started and first drafts were produced. Through Science Link, there is much more visibility about the RIs offers in an understandable way for the companies in the diffrerent BS countries. The carrying out of the measurements in the frame of the calls is a benefit as well for the companies as for the regions but also for the RIs. There are in general very little commercial users. Commercial users are needed in addition to scientific users as the operation costs of the RIs are very high. Today all of them are operated in transnational cooperation and commercial users from all BS states should have access. In the end of the project structures for this should be established.

Themes

Innovation capacity and awareness-raising Scientific cooperation SME and entrepreneurship

Partners

Lead Partner: DESY Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron

Address: Notkestr. 85, D-22607 Hamburg, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Latvijas Universitates Cietvielu fizikas instituts

Name: Latvijas Universitates Cietvielu fizikas instituts

Address: 8 Kengaraga str., LV-1063 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: n/a

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH

Name: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH

Address: Hahn-Meitner-Platz1, D-14109 Berlin, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material ind Küstenforschung

Name: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material ind Küstenforschung

Address: Max-Planck-Straße 1, D-21502 Geesthacht, Germany

Legal status: n/a

Tartu Teaduspark

Name: Tartu Teaduspark

Address: Riia, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Website: www.sciencepark.ee

Valsts reģionālās attīstības aģentūras

Name: Valsts reģionālās attīstības aģentūras

Address: Elizabetes iela 19, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: n/a

Rigas Domes Pilsetas AttistibasDepartaments

Name: Rigas Domes Pilsetas AttistibasDepartaments

Address: Amatu iela 4,, LV – 1050 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: n/a

Kainuun Etu Oy

Name: Kainuun Etu Oy

Address: Lönnrotinkatu 1, FIN-87100 Kajaani, Finland

Legal status: n/a

Turun yliopisto

Name: Turun yliopisto

Department: Geography and Geology

Address: Yliopistonmäki, Luonnontieteiden talo 1, FI-20014 Turku, Finland

Legal status: public

Website: www.utu.fi

Mokslo, inovacijų ir technologijų agentūra

Name: Mokslo, inovacijų ir technologijų agentūra

Address: A. Goštauto 12 – 219, LT-01108 Vilnius, Lithuania

Legal status: n/a

FIZINIŲ IR TECHNOLOGIJOS MOKSLŲ CENTRO Puslaidininkių fizikos institutas

Name: FIZINIŲ IR TECHNOLOGIJOS MOKSLŲ CENTRO Puslaidininkių fizikos institutas

Address: A. Goštauto 11, LT-01108 Vilnius, Lithuania

Legal status: n/a

Instytut Fizyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk

Name: Instytut Fizyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk

Address: Al. Lotników 32/46, PL-02-668 Warsaw, Poland

Legal status: n/a

Fundacja Inicjatyw Innowacyjnych

Name: Fundacja Inicjatyw Innowacyjnych

Address: Konarskiego 44/7, 30-046 Krakow, Poland

Legal status: n/a

Innovation association "Academtechnopatk" (Republican Centre for Technology Transfer)

Name: Innovation association "Academtechnopatk" (Republican Centre for Technology Transfer)

Address: Nezavisimosti av., 66-100, 220072 Minsk, Belarus

Legal status: n/a

Lunds Universitet

Name: Lunds Universitet

Address: p.O. Box 117, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden

Legal status: n/a

Fund of inventor's support "Prinemanskaya Bratchina"

Name: Fund of inventor's support "Prinemanskaya Bratchina"

Address: Sovetskaya Str. 43 office 9, 231300 Lida, Belarus

Legal status: n/a

Technical University of Denmark

Name: Technical University of Denmark

Address: Frederiksborgvej 399; P.O. Box 49, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Legal status: n/a

Tartu Ülikool

Name: Tartu Ülikool

Address: Üöikooli 18, 50090 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: n/a

Invest in Skane

Name: Invest in Skane

Address: Dockplatsen 26, SE-20525 Malmö, Sweden

Legal status: n/a

Summary

Project name (EN): Network between world-leading Cluster of large-scale Research Infrastructure of Photon and Neutron Sources and Users fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Baltic Sea Region

Project acronym: SCIENCE LINK

Period: 2007-2013

Website: http://eu.baltic.net/

Project start date: 2011-09-29

Project end date: 2014-03-28

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 3 632 433.00

European Union funding: EUR 2 800 074.75

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action: PA Innovation – Exploiting the full potential of the region in research, innovation and SME, utilising the Digital Single Market as a source for attracting talents and investments

EUSBSR Degree of compliance: part of flagship project “A Baltic Science Link”