The aim of the NCP is to make the best use of significant European research infrastructures (hereinafter referred to as ERIs) by scientists from the Slovak Republic for the purpose of carrying out world-class experiments. For example, thanks to the shareholder participation of the Slovak Republic in the European XFEL GmbH in Hamburg, Slovak research teams have the opportunity to use individual workstations to carry out experiments and Slovak companies can become suppliers of high-tech technologies for the XFEL. Similarly, it is possible to streamline the access of Slovak scientists and companies to other European research infrastructures within the scope of the ESFRI FMEZ Commission.
- NCP responsibilities:
- supporting activities to maximize the benefit of the Slovak contribution to the European XFEL in defined areas, and other ERIs within the scope of the ESFRI FMEZ Commission,
- increasing the quality of basic and applied research in the Slovak Republic in the priorities defined by the European XFEL and other ERIs within the scope of the ESFRI FMEZ Commission,
- increasing the level of involvement of Slovak research groups in international consortia and joint research projects with the participation of European XFEL and partners, and the participation of other ERIs within the scope of the ESFRI FMEZ Commission,
- improving the involvement of Slovak industry in cutting-edge research and development as a supplier and co-investigator of development work,
- improving awareness of both the professional and lay public about the European XFEL and other ERIs within the scope of the ESFRI FMEZ Commission,
- preparing a new generation of experts in this field through targeted training, modification of study programs and extracurricular activities,
- supporting the increase in the success rate of projects submitted for the award of measurement time in the competitive environment of the ERA – the European Research Area,
- creating financial schemes for the implementation of experiments and supporting participation in key professional events on the issues of FEL and other ERIs within the scope of the ESFRI FMEZ Commission,
- creating financial schemes to provide specific services (production of samples, services, calibration objects or other cost items that cannot be directly financed from domestic grant agencies due to limits on applicability to long-term predefined, but only short-term narrowly focused project goals),
- support in writing projects – internal peer review/consulting, IP office, consultations, PR activities, website management, finding partners in Slovakia and abroad.
Project for the establishment of NCP XFEL & ERI at Pavol Jozef Šafárik Univeristy: Supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of the Slovak Republic with Amendment No. 9 to Contract No. 0011/2024: Funding of ESFRI 2024 Research Infrastructures within the framework of Measure No. 1.3.4.2 NSVVI.