EU project CALIPSOplus has started for free access to European light sources

Light sources collaborating in CALIPSOplus

Light sources collaborating in CALIPSOplus

The EU is providing ten million euros in funding for the project CALIPSOplus, submitted by 19 European light sources. The project consortium, of which Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin is a member, kicked off on May 2017. CALIPSOplus is aimed at promoting the international exchange of scientists and transnational access to the light sources in Europe. Other priorities are to integrate the relatively less active regions of Europe and to initiate research projects with small and mid-sized companies. 

CALIPSOplus has a runtime of four years and is coordinated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. In the scope of CALIPSOplus, HZB manages the work package “Dissemination and Training” and is involved in the research project MOONPICS on the metrology of nanometre lenses.

The project partners will be taking targeted measures to advertise the outstanding analytical methods available here to researchers from Central and Eastern Europe who have so far rarely used the European light sources. This will help to integrate them more strongly into the European scientific landscape. “It is important that we approach the scientists from these countries in person, locally, and promote the opportunities at the light sources. So it’s great that the training programme is one of the priorities of CALIPSOplus,” says Dr. Antje Vollmer, who is coordinating the activities for HZB and who manages user coordination at HZB. Among other things, HZB is planning workshops at universities of the 13 youngest EU countries. Furthermore, there will be a “twinning and exchange programme” that will invite scientists from these countries to collaborate on an equal footing with experienced users of light sources.

The kick-off event for CALIPSOplus was held at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) on 18 and 19 May 2017. More information

Website Wayforlight

Wayforlight.eu is currently being expanded and provides information about the experimental stations at Europe’s light sources and details on how to apply for measuring time.

(sz)

  • Copy link

You might also be interested in

  • Magnon momentum microscopy: A new window into nanoscale spin-waves
    Science Highlight
    08.06.2026
    Magnon momentum microscopy: A new window into nanoscale spin-waves
    An international team lead by the Max Born Institute has developed a new type of momentum microscopy to image magnons — the quanta of collectively excited spins — directly in two-dimensional reciprocal space using soft X-rays. Measurements have taken place at BESSY II and PETRA III, first author ist the HZB physicist Steffen Wittrock. Owing to its remarkable sensitivity, simplicity, and access to nanometer-scale wavelengths, this novel technique establishes a powerful and versatile platform for exploring nonlinear magnon interactions, which are promising for future computing schemes.
  • X-ray analysis reveals overpainted fascist symbols
    Science Highlight
    08.06.2026
    X-ray analysis reveals overpainted fascist symbols
    Erich Mercker was a successful painter during the Nazi era and in the years that followed. After 1945, he covered up Nazi symbols in at least one of his paintings. With an interdisciplinary team, physicist Dr Ioanna Mantouvalou reports on this study in the Nature Journal Heritage Science.
  • Magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples ammonia yield
    Science Highlight
    01.06.2026
    Magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples ammonia yield
    Applying an external magnetic field during the synthesis of CoFe₂O₄ electrocatalysts triples the ammonia yield during electrocatalytic conversion. The magnetic field alters the surface states of the spinel oxide thin films, making catalytically active sites more accessible. In the journal 'Advanced Functional Materials', a team led by Marcel Risch at HZB and Sanjay Mathur at University of Cologne demonstrates a scalable strategy for developing next-generation electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable chemical production.