Tag: Memorandum of Understanding

ESRF and DESY join forces to build a European software ecosystem for photon science

ESRF and DESY join forces to build a European software ecosystem for photon science

On the eve of the 86th meeting of the ESRF Council, hosted by DESY in Hamburg, The ESRF, the European synchrotron located in Grenoble, and DESY, the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration in the development of advanced software, data and computing technologies for photon science. Both operating world-leading high-energy synchrotron facilities, the two research centres are combining their complementary expertise to build a sustainable European software ecosystem that can support current and future generations of synchrotron and photon science facilities – a collaborative effort designed from the outset to welcome broader participation from research infrastructures across Europe.

At a time when scientific competitiveness increasingly depends on the ability to develop, deploy and maintain sophisticated software infrastructures, the ESRF and DESY are combining their expertise to advance shared solutions for beamline control, data acquisition, data analysis and scientific computing — with the ambition of creating the foundations for a community-driven European ecosystem that can evolve sustainably and respond to the growing needs of photon science.

DESY and the ESRF share a long-standing and productive partnership across multiple scientific and technological domains. This year, as the ESRF celebrates six years of successful operation of ESRF-EBS, the first of a new kind of fourth-generation high-energy synchrotrons, and as DESY progresses with the PETRA IV upgrade towards the brightest of synchrotron facilities, this new MoU reflects the strategic complementarity of the two research infrastructures. Together, they bring expertise spanning facility operation, instrumentation, software engineering, data management and scientific computing, creating a strong foundation for the development of common solutions for the benefit of the wider scientific community.

Read more on the ESRF website

Image: The signature ceremony of the MoU

Credit: Marta Mayer, DESY

MAX IV and BESSY II initiate new collaboration to advance materials science

MAX IV and BESSY II initiate new collaboration to advance materials science

Swedish national synchrotron laboratory MAX IV and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) BESSY II light source announce the signing of a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The new MoU establishes a framework to strengthen cooperation for operational and technological development in the highlighted fields of accelerator research and development, beamlines and optics, endstations and sample environments as well as digitalisation and data science.

The new agreement increases accessibility and overall opportunities for users to conduct advanced materials science investigations at MAX IV and BESSY II in a smooth, integrated manner. Facility collaboration through project-based initiatives may include, among others, reciprocal exchange of knowledge, instrumentation development and usage, data handling, scientific and technical staff, research initiatives, and PhD programme activities.

“Decades of collaboration between Sweden and HZB—rooted in, for example, shared work on energy-relevant materials and enabling methods and technologies—have continually advanced our field. The MoU we sign today gives MAX IV and HZB a solid platform to keep advancing synchrotron science into the 2030s and beyond,” says Olof Karis, Director of MAX IV.

Read more on MAX IV website

Image: MAX IV and HZB after signing the MoU. From left Olof Karis, Director at MAX IV, Antje Hasselberg, authorized signatory at HZB and Bernd Rech, Scientific Director at HZB.

Credit: HZB / Ronja Gründke

Leading Korean science research centre to work in collaboration with Diamond 

Leading Korean science research centre to work in collaboration with Diamond 

A new partnership agreement between Diamond and Max Planck POSTECH/Korea Research Initiative (MPK) has been established

Representatives from both institutions met this week to sign a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The aim of the agreement is to unite the two organisations in educational and scientific cooperation. This will include exchanging research expertise in shared fields of interest, as well as encouraging research visits between the two organisations. 

MPK was established in October 2011 in close cooperation with the Max Planck Foundation (MPI) in Germany to advance foundational and innovative technologies in materials science through international collaboration. Part of its remit is to actively promote global talent training programs in association with Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH).

The initiative is particularly interested in developing cutting-edge functional materials and nanostructures with complex properties, as well as the development of high-tech functional nanodevices with new optical, electrical, and magnetic properties.

Read more on Diamond website

Image: Dr Adrian Mancuso, Physical Sciences Director (Diamond); Prof. Jae-Hoon Park Director (MPK); Changyong Song, Prof. of Physics (MPK); Sukeun Park (MPK) , Prof. Jongsu Park (MPK)

Leading UK Science facilities announce new five-year collaboration

Leading UK Science facilities announce new five-year collaboration

A new five-year agreement to facilitate collaboration between two leading UK Science institutions has been announced.

Diamond Light Source, the UK’s synchrotron light source and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) aim to bring the two organisations closer together to allow students to learn about each other’s science portfolio. This agreement will drive a closer collaboration through the formation of a Steering Committee that will help shape curriculum content to meet students’ needs.

Commenting on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Chief Scientist at NPL, DR JT Janssen;

Our goal is to combine our expertise and facilities to accomplish momentous scientific impact.  We want to develop common specialised knowledge and increase the effective use of our facilities; as well as increasing cooperation and mutual support among our students and staff.

In addition to joint meetings, networking and training, the MoU will facilitate the identification of collaborative research and skills development opportunities of mutual or individual interest through a dedicated Steering Committee with representatives from both organisations.

Prof. Gianluigi Botton, Chief Executive Officer at Diamond Light Source adds;

This agreement is going to create great opportunities for new science and for both organisations’ scientists and students.  A key objective is to facilitate collaboration around student engagement activities, including using our respective expertise to accomplish valuable scientific training for each other’s student cohorts

Read more on Diamond website

Image: From L to R: (Front Row) CEOs Dr Peter Thompson (NPL) and Prof. Gianluigi Botton (Diamond), and (Second Row) Dr Richard Burguete Postgraduate Institute Director (NPL), Dr JT Janssen, Chief Scientist (NPL), Isabelle Boscaro-Clark, Head of Impact, Communications and Engagement (Diamond), Dr Adrian Mancuso, Physical Sciences Director (Diamond), and Prof. Sir Dave Stuart FRS, Life Sciences Director (Diamond)