Call for new access providers
Deadline: 13.09.2024
Nanoscience Foundries and Fine Analysis - Europe | PILOT (GA n. 101007417 - NEP) looks for new access providers to complement and reinforce the current offer available in the “Tools catalogue” as third-party providing services against payment.
NFFA-EUROPE is an open access platform that allows researchers from the EU, associated and third Countries to access state of-the-art facilities to carry out comprehensive projects for multidisciplinary research at the nano- and micro-scale extending from theory and numerical simulation to synthesis and nano-characterization of materials, and micro and nanofabrication of test structures and devices.
NFFA-EUROPE is supported by NFFA - Europe PILOT, a 15 million euros research project funded by the EU in the framework of the H2020 program. Its aim is to expand and consolidate an Interoperable Distributed Research Infrastructure for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology during 2021-2026. It is coordinated by the Istituto Officina dei Materiali (IOM) of the National Research Council (CNR) and involves 24 international partners.
What are we looking for?
RPO’s (Research Performing Organizations) and private companies (both SMEs and large enterprises) coming from EU or associated countries interested in offering access to their state-of-the-art facilities to NFFA users.
The new providers will contribute to strengthen and expand the current offer available on the NFFA-Europe catalogue in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, that is organized in the following 6 installations:
In particular, we seek new providers strengthening:
Laser Surface and In Volume Patterning
@Installation 5
As well as innovative new methodologies, complementary to those present in the current catalogue, across Installations 1-6. Offer of services from industrial environment is most welcome.
The new providers will have to:
- Readily contribute to the feasibility check of users’ proposals, when prompted by TLNet, after each of the 4 calls per year
- Guarantee quick scheduling of access to the new services whenever user projects are assigned to their facilities
- Support technically and logistically the users in preparation and during the access
- Contribute information and financial data to the UONet concerning Travel and Subsistence of the users to their facilities for real-time monitoring
- Ensure adherence to all internal and EU-related rules for operation of the infrastructure and for reporting, and to cost accounting under one of the EU accepted methods (based on unit costs or actual costs)
Why coming on board of NFFA-Europe?
Community building
Be part of a successful Interoperable Distributed Research Infrastructure, serving European and International peer-review selected users, that already hosted over 1100 users from 50 countries since 2015.
Visibility
The contributed techniques and competences will integrate the catalogue and become fully visible to the broadest community in nanoscience and will be available for the last 2 or 3 calls of NEP operation.
Comprehensive benefits
NFFA users will be highly qualified testers of all the methods and instruments open to access and will provide feedback to the providers, potentially also offering opportunities of co-creation of more advanced solutions.
Budget
The available budget will be dedicated to access cost reimbursement for transnational access, according to the EC financial rules and considering the overall balance among the NFFA-Europe providers. The number of Units of Access attributed to the new provider, and the associated estimated budget, will be finalized as the outcome of the call will be established.
How to apply?
Candidates must complete the application form and send it to sebastian.ferrari@nffa.eu by September 13, 2024
