Project Information
Astrocent Plus
Grant agreement ID: 101137080
DOI 10.3030/101137080
EC signature date: 4 November 2024
Start date: 1 January 2025
End date: 31 December 2030
Total cost € 15 000 000,00
EU contribution € 15 000 000,00
Centre of Excellence in particle astrophysics science in Poland
The Centre of Excellence AstroCeNT was established in Poland in 2018 under the International Research Agendas programme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, to conduct research in astroparticle physics and explore the hidden universe. The EU-funded Astrocent Plus project will expand and transform AstroCeNT, making it a fully-independent and interdisciplinary entity. The centre will focus on cutting-edge research combining a future-oriented fundamental research programme in astroparticle physics with development of technologies to address global challenges such as climate change, healthcare and sustainable energy. Furthermore, it will become the first autonomous, modern entity in the field of astroparticle physics supported by the Teaming for Excellence programme and the first of its kind in Poland and the Central-Eastern side of Europe.
Objective
The prime objective of the project is to uplift the existing Centre of Excellence AstroCeNT by transforming it into a fully independent, interdisciplinary, new legal entity: Astrocent Plus Particle Astrophysics Science and Technology Centre. Astrocent Plus will engage in cutting-edge research and development in astroparticle physics and in related aspects of innovative technology, addressing global challenges, such as healthcare, climate change and sustainable sources of energy. As a fully autonomous entity with a modern professional management and administrative structure, it will be the first scientific institution in astroparticle physics supported by Teaming for Excellence and the first one in the field in Poland. Acting in close cooperation with world-leading consortium partners, Astrocent Plus will be embedded in a network of international collaborations involved in frontier research, probing the invisible Universe through neutrino, cosmic-ray, gravitational-wave and dark matter detection. AstroCeNT and the field have a proven record of medical and commercial applications and after the uplift will bring further high-impact benefits to society and economy. The buildup of internationally-rooted research capacity, gained through strategic partnerships, will position the Centre to achieve a significant, measurable, improvement in research and innovation culture and long-term financial sustainability, in part through commercialisation. The Centre will improve mobility and gender balance, train new cadres of highly-qualified researchers in science and hi-tech industry, promote innovation and cooperation between scientists and industry and help Poland and the EU attain a competitive position in the global value chains. With modern management practices, Astrocent Plus will become the main hub for the rapidly-developing field of particle astrophysics and a role model for Poland and the region for excellence in basic sciences and fruitful cooperation with industry.
Programme
Call for proposal
Funding Scheme
Coordinator
- Centrum Astronomiczne im. Mikołaja Kopernika Polskiej Akademii Nauk (CAMK PAN)
Participants
- Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France
- Universite Paris Cite, France
- Gran Sasso Science Institute, Italy
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Germany
- Centrum Łukasiewicz, Poland
Partner
- Queen’s University at Kingston, Canada
