The ALBA Synchrotron and the Eurecat technology centre have inked a cooperation agreement to drive materials research. It covers collaboration in research, development and innovation projects of mutual interest related to synchrotron light and new product and material development along with enhancing several scientifically and industrially relevant processes.
Topics to be pursued include developing new metal, ceramic, composite and battery materials, upgrading industrial manufacturing processes and developing technologies and processes for enhancing environmental resources. The partners will also target bringing the benefits of synchrotron light-based R&D and technological innovation to industry, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises.
The ALBA Synchrotron is one of the preeminent scientific and technical facilities in Spain and currently chairs the European League of Accelerator-based Photon Sources (LEAPS) which brings together some twenty large European facilities. ALBA was opened in 2010 and since then has been delivering synchrotron light to the scientific and industrial community looking to characterise materials at the atomic and molecular scale in fields as diverse as biomedicine, materials science, nanotechnology and archaeology. ALBA has worked with over 1,900 institutions, research centres and businesses across 45 countries. Its facilities are drawn on by over 2,100 academic and industrial users every year and have generated nearly 2,000 scientific publications, many with high impact, which are directly or indirectly mentioned by 372 patents.
Eurecat brings together the expertise of over 650 specialists generating €50 million in annual turnover and provides services to more than 1,600 businesses. The solutions Eurecat supplies to large, small and medium-sized enterprises across all industries include applied R&D, technology services, highly specialised training, technology consultancy and professional events. With sites in Barcelona, Canet de Mar, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Girona, Lleida, Manresa, Mataró, Reus, Tarragona, Amposta and Vila-seca, Eurecat is taking part in 160 large national and international R&D consortia projects with high strategic value and has 88 patents and seven spin-offs. The added value delivered by Eurecat fast-tracks innovation, cuts outlay on scientific and technological facilities, mitigates risks and furnishes specialised knowledge tailored to each business.
