A flying start for CERN in H2020
This article is a republication from the CERN Bulletin.
Following successful participation in a string of some 90 projects within FP7, CERN is actively involved in Horizon 2020. In 2014, nearly 60 proposals involving CERN’s participation were submitted to various H2020 sub-programmes and the hope is that many more will follow in 2015.
The projects coordinated by CERN that have been selected for funding in 2014 span many different fields and activities: science outreach (PopScience), a study of isotopes for medical applications (MEDICIS-PROMED), the development of innovative fibre technologies (INTELUM), international collaboration on accelerator science and technology (E-JADE), novel NMR techniques (BetaDropNMR), new mathematical structures (MathAm) and the procurement of cloud services in Europe (PICSE).
After a very encouraging 2014, 2015 started well too: AIDA-2020 and EuroCirCol have recently been selected for funding under the H2020 Research Infrastructure programme. Both projects are fully in line with the priorities of the European Strategy for Particle Physics and have strategic importance for CERN (as the coordinating institute) and the HEP community.
AIDA-2020 brings together 38 partners from 19 countries. The project aims to advance detector technologies beyond current limits (image 1) for the benefit of thousands of researchers participating in the LHC High-Luminosity Upgrade, linear collider efforts and future neutrino projects, and to enhance the coordination within the European detector community, leveraging EU and national resources. AIDA-2020 will also exploit the innovation potential of detector R&D by engaging with European industry for large-scale production of detector systems and by developing applications outside of particle physics, e.g. for medical imaging.
EuroCirCol is a conceptual design study in preparation for a post-LHC accelerator in Europe, i.e. the FCC (Future Circular Collider). The project will study different scenarios and assess the feasibility of key technologies needed for a new 100 TeV energy-frontier circular collider (image 2) through a worldwide collaboration of institutes and universities. The main outcome of EuroCirCol will be laying the foundation of an ambitious post-LHC machine that will strengthen Europe’s position as a focal point of global research cooperation and a leader in frontier knowledge and technologies over the next decades.
So far, 18 new EU projects involving CERN have been accepted for funding, and 9 of those are coordinated by CERN teams. Considering that the average success rate in H2020 is expected to be below 20%, CERN’s record so far is very encouraging for the 15 proposals that are still under evaluation.
