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

  • How carbonates influence CO2-to-fuel conversion
    Science Highlight
    25.11.2025
    How carbonates influence CO2-to-fuel conversion
    Researchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI) have uncovered how carbonate molecules affect the conversion of CO2 into valuable fuels on gold electrocatalysts. Their findings reveal key molecular mechanisms in CO2 electrocatalysis and hydrogen evolution, pointing to new strategies for improving energy efficiency and reaction selectivity.

  • Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materials
    Science Highlight
    25.11.2025
    Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materials
    Iron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts have the potential to replace the more expensive platinum catalysts currently used in fuel cells. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and universities in Tartu and Tallinn, Estonia. At BESSY II, the team observed the formation of complex microstructures within various samples. They then analysed which structural parameters were particularly important for fostering the preferred electrochemical reactions. The raw material for such catalysts is well decomposed peat.
  • Helmholtz Investigator Group on magnons
    News
    24.11.2025
    Helmholtz Investigator Group on magnons
    Dr Hebatalla Elnaggar is setting up a new Helmholtz Investigator Group at HZB. At BESSY II, the materials scientist will investigate so-called magnons in magnetic perovskite thin films. The aim is to lay the foundations for future terahertz magnon technology: magnonic devices operating in the terahertz range could process data using a fraction of the energy required by the most advanced semiconductor devices, and at speeds up to a thousand times faster.