The importance of establishing the National Contact Point for XFEL and other European Research Infrastructures (NCP XFEL and ERI)
Slovakia actively participated in the establishment of the European XFEL GmbH and is also involved in the operation of this facility. Currently, by opening this significant European infrastructure to user research teams, the effort is to make the most effective use of the opportunities offered by Slovakia as a shareholder of this infrastructure and to carry out experiments on this unique facility through Slovak researchers in relevant areas, or through Slovak companies to supply components to the XFEL, participate in the maintenance of the facility, etc.
The shareholder countries of the European XFEL GmbH are mobilizing their researchers and relevant companies and are preparing comprehensively for its use. Support at the national level is very important, especially from the point of view of coordinating activities, educating a young generation of researchers capable of using the XFEL, informing researchers and companies about the possibilities of involvement, etc.
The Science and Research Section of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of the Slovak Republic is a guarantor in the European XFEL GmbH, but in terms of its focus and staffing, it cannot fulfill the aforementioned extensive agenda in relation to the European XFEL GmbH. In this context, the establishment of the NCP will achieve a more comprehensive solution for more effective use of the possibilities and opportunities offered by the XFEL, other European research infrastructures, and synchrotron sources for the needs of Slovak scientists.
