Scratching below the surface

Projects such as this are helping the EU to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020, as set out in the EU 2020 growth strategy. The EU is facing some tough challenges, including an ageing population, an insufficiently qualified workforce, the need for greater innovation, striking a balance between economic growth and environmental degradation, and ensuring secure, clean energy supplies. Regional policy projects across the EU are playing an active role in dealing with these and many other challenges, by undertaking projects designed to generate employment, raise educational achievement, develop renewable energy sources, boost productivity and give all citizens access to opportunities. The projects and the regions play a pivotal role in this, as they generate real results that contribute to achieving the strategy’s key goals.

The new centre, set up under the CEUREMAVSU project, has subsequently become involved in 10 international projects, with many R&D jobs created and retained, and post-doctoral level researchers taken on.

No ordinary matter

The research centre, part of the National Institute of Materials Physics, conducts basic and applied research in condensed matter physics, materials science and related scientific domains by developing and employing advanced Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) / Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) methods and techniques. In terms of employment at the centre, this project has hired 29 young research assistants (B.A. or M.Sc. degree), three post-doctoral fellows (reintegration grants), and two technical staff (engineers). To assist the staff, students and researchers in their work, 28 new pieces of equipment were purchased under the project, 24 of which are worth more than €100 000 euro each.

Scientific investigations recognised

The research staff have extensive expertise and have produced internationally recognised scientific results from investigations using multifrequency and multiresonance ESR techniques. Many scientific findings have already been published and/or presented at scientific conferences, including the synthesis and characterisation by structural, ESR and optical spectroscopy techniques, and multifrequency ESR investigations.

Experts pool resources

CetRESav is helping develop and support the use of advanced ESR methods and techniques by extending its cooperation with research centres, universities and the private sector in Romania and abroad. For example, several international collaborations, including two new COST actions, a new EUROCORE project and a new SCOPUS project started in 2010-11, alongside two cooperation projects with the CEA (Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique) from France. A one-day workshop on HRTEM techniques was also held in May 2011. Such actions and events ensure that innovative ideas are shared and exploited for maximum benefit.