1st call for proposals NFFA-Europe – open from today, June 28^th!

Academic and industrial researchers can apply for access from today until September 1^st, 2021, through the website www.nffa.eu.

NFFA-Europe is a distributed research infrastructure that integrates nanofoundries (growth, synthesis and nano/micro-fabrication) with advanced characterization and fine analysis available at European large-scale facilities, and with theory and simulation tools, creating a unique offer for cutting edge research in nanoscience and nanotechnology. It offers users the possibility to carry out cutting edge research at the frontier of the nanoscience and nanotechnology with the widest possible range of tools and more than 180 techniques currently available. Researchers accessing the NFFA-Europe facilities can control and design the properties of materials from the nano- to the micro-scale, and even up to the macro-scale. Thanks to NFFA Europe Pilot, a new project supported by the H2020 framework programme of the European Commission, this comprehensive catalogue of facilities and services is now offered to users for free. The H2020 project NFFA Europe Pilot will consolidate and expand the operation of an Interoperable Distributed Research Infrastructure for Nanoscience (IDRIN) – a unique platform to perform complex projects, offering a seamless series of science services to its users.

Through the NFFA-Europe Research Infrastructure, comprehensive research projects become feasible through the submission of a single proposal.

NFFA-Europe offer is divided in 6 installations:

1. lithography and patterning;
2. growth and synthesis;
3. structural and morphological characterization;
4. electronic, chemical, and magnetic characterization;
5. from nano to micro/macro;
6. theory and simulation.

The online catalogue provides the description and technical details of the techniques offered in each installation.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Both academic and industrial users can apply.  A sizable fraction of access (up to 20%) can be granted to non-European researchers.  All proposals undergo a high-level independent scientific assessment and are ranked for priority of access.

WHEN?

Users can submit their proposal any time starting from June 28^th, 2021. Proposals will be collected and evaluated every three months. The first set of proposals will enter the evaluation pipeline on September 1^st, 2021 evening.

BASIC RULES

Access must be transnational, and the proposal must include techniques from at least two different installations. Proposals must be submitted through the website www.nffa.eu, browsing the catalogue and selecting the needed techniques.

ACCESS MODE

Conventional access to the facilities will be provided when compliant with the pandemic/post-pandemic regime. Remote access may be offered in different implementations (mail-in, interactive cooperative, interactive full control, standard services in clean-room).

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Access to laboratories is free, with a contribution for the reimbursement of costs actually incurred to visit the facilities: up to 500 euros for travel and up to 100 euros per day for subsistence. The contribution can be granted to a maximum of two users per accepted proposal.

WORKFLOW

As soon as the proposal is submitted on the website, the technical liaison network (TLNet – a network of scientists and technicians in charge of coordinating the access request and supporting user access) consults the sites offering access to the required techniques on the feasibility of the proposed experiment. Feasible proposals are then evaluated and ranked according to scientific merit by an external panel of reviewers (Access Review Panel – ARP). The best-ranked proposals are assigned to the most appropriate NFFA-Europe site/sites and scheduled for access. “Highlight Proposals”, selected among excellent, promising and challenging research proposals on scientifically and technologically “hot topics” adopting a comprehensive approach (well-justified and balanced access to complementary techniques/methods), will be granted fast-track access.