Towards pan-European research infrastructures Study Cases: Extreme Light Infrastructure and International Centre for Anvanced Studies Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea Viorel VULTURESCU Counselor - National Authority for Scientific Research

Outline: ESFRI - European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures Pan - European research infrastructure Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) International Centre for Advanced Studies Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea (3D BS)

ESFRI - ESFRI - What about ? Forum with representatives of EU member states, associated States Strategic instrument to develop the scientific integration of Europe and to strengthen its international outreach. Its mission is to support a coherent and strategy-led approach to policy-making on research infrastructures in Europe, and to facilitate multilateral initiatives leading to the better use and development of research infrastructures, at EU and international level.

ESFRI - ESFRI - Roadmap List of RI that are to be established in the coming years by (joint efforts of) Members States and European Union – new RI or upgraded ones Inception phase might be supported by the European Commission (preparatory phase projects) Build up with financial support of EU (see study cases) Based on “national roadmaps”

ESFRI – ESFRI – Preparatory phase – what for ? Small financial support to inception phase of a research infrastructure Definition of: a)Governance b)Financial structure c)Legal structure for the future pan-European infrastructure, with participation of interested states

ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure PP projects funded by EU (and Romania for some activities) Carried out during Main outcomes: An infrastructure with 3 pilars (RO, HU, CZ)

ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure - PP Organization - Set the governance rules of ELI. Strategic - Study the influence of ELI on the actual fabric of large-scale facilities, including lasers, FELs and accelerators. Legal - Set the final legal scheme of ELI.

ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure - PP Finance - Consider the different funding schemes according to the possible host countries. Implement the final financial plan. Safety issues - Set a safety and radio-protection book for users and ELI personnel

ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure - results HU – extremely fast dynamics by taking snap-shots in the attosecond scale (a billionth of a billionth of second) of the electron dynamics in atoms, molecules, plasmas and solids. It will also pursue research in ultrahigh intensity laser - hu.huwww.eli- hu.hu CZ - ultra-short energetic particle (10 GeV) and radiation (up to few MeV) beams produced from compact laser plasma accelerators to users - RO - laser-based nuclear physics. An intense gamma-ray source is forseen by coupling a high-energy particle accelerator to a high-power laser.

ELI - Extreme Light Infrastructure - Results CZ HU RO

International Centre for Advanced Studies Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea Political Context: EU Strategy for Danube Region Initiated by Romania and Austria Action Plan: Priority Action 7 – “…..To establish joint international research centres for advanced studies … “

3D BS Centre EU Research Infrastructures The Centre will represent one of the most important EU Research Infrastructures in the field of Earth and Environmental Sciences, oriented towards the development of a modern and sustainable management of river - sea systems Pan-European point for continuous education & frontier research in the field of deltaic systems The International Centre for Advanced Research (ICAR) will focus on fundamental and applied, integrated and multi-disciplinary research, contributing to the sustainable management of wetlands and river – delta – sea areas.

3D BS Centre – Major Goals  Study the processes influencing the evolution of wetlands, deltas, lagoons and coastal ecosystems  Increase the involvement of local communities in the sustainable management of wetlands  Develop knowledge based economy to support the economic growth of Danube – Danube Delta – Black Sea area while conserving the natural biodiversity

3D BS Centre – one of the most important European Connection Corridors The largest inland water way

3D BS Centre

3D BS Centre - Structure

3D BS Centre – life science pillar 1. Ecosystem assessment 2. Ecosystem monitoring 3. Restoration strategies 4. Nature conservation 5. Adaptive ecosystem management 6. Modelling, simulation and hypothesis testing

3D BS Centre – earth sciences pilar 1. Origin & evolution of D-DD-BS system 2. Geodynamic processes 3. Hydrology & sedimentology 4. Erosion and morpho-dynamics 5. Geo-hazards & risk assessment 6. Modelling the regional impact of climate change

3D BS Centre – socio-economic pilar 1. Assessing the changes in society demand on river-delta-sea systems 2. Natural resources assessment and valuation 3. Evaluating the anthropogenic impact on ecosystems goods and services 4. Evaluating socio-economic development scenarios and measures for sustainable use

3D BS Centre – why Danube Delta Position: interface between the Danube River (the most international river in the world) and the Black Sea Unique place:  the largest delta of the European Union (~6 000 km 2 )  less affected by human activities  high biodiversity (over 30 types of ecosystems) Conservation status: Ramsar site (1991) Biosphere Reserve UNESCO MAB Program UNESCO World Heritage site

3D BS Centre – why Murighiol Location: placed on the Danube River (St. George arm, within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the location was selected from 11 sites) Access facilities: by road and by the Danube River, immediate access to the Danube Delta, access to the coastal zone and to the Danube River. Land availability: Murighiol Local Council approved about 10 hectares area for the Centre

3D BS Centre – Location (Murighiol)

3D BS Centre – Timeplan and estimated budget Phase million Euros Phase million Euros Phase million Euros

3D BS Centre – DANCERS FP 7 - CSA project funded by European Commission “Best of Europe for Danube Region”

3D BS Centre – DANCERS

(Some) Conclusions 1.World-class infrastructures are pushed forward by multinational consortia 2.Pan-European RIs (either single or distributed) have to fulfil ESFRI criteria 3.Idea – feasibility – construction – operation takes several years

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