The University of Aveiro (UA), through researchers affiliated with CICECO – Aveiro Institute of Materials, announces the establishment of the Portuguese Association of Users of Large International Research Infrastructures, formalized on November 21st during an international meeting dedicated to strengthening access for Portuguese researchers to the most advanced European synchrotron radiation and neutron beam sources.

The ceremony took place in Marinha Grande and brought together national users and representatives from several large European scientific infrastructures, including ALBA Synchrotron, European Spallation Source ERIC, ESRF – The European Synchrotron, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Synchrotron SOLEIL, and Centrum SOLARIS. Also present were the presidents of ESUO (European Synchrotron and Free Electron Laser User Organisation) and ENSA (European Neutron Scattering Association), as well as the representative of the European project NEPHEWS, the sponsoring entity of the initiative. The University of Aveiro (UA) was represented by members of the Computational Spectroscopy Lab – Paulo Ribeiro-Claro, Mariela Nolasco, João Martins, and Simão Vidinha Pandeirada – all with strong ties to CICECO, who participated in the session and signed the Inaugural Signature Book, thus integrating the founding register of the new association.

The creation of this association constitutes a significant step towards consolidating Portuguese participation in large-scale international scientific infrastructures, reinforcing the articulation with European networks and promoting more robust conditions for the use of advanced synchrotron radiation and neutron beam techniques in national research. In this context, the role of research centers such as CICECO is crucial for expanding skills and enhancing the use of cutting-edge techniques in materials and physical sciences.

The UA, in conjunction with CICECO, will continue to support initiatives that contribute to the development of skills, the increase in the technical autonomy of the scientific community, and the valorization of national scientific production in a European context.

NEPHEWS: New Opportunities for Portuguese Researchers

The European NEPHEWS project, funded by the European Union, is dedicated to facilitating access to advanced techniques based on synchrotron radiation and neutron beams. The project brings together a large part of the European infrastructure in this field, providing training, integration, and logistical support free of charge for Portuguese users, including members of centers of excellence such as CICECO.

Coordinated by a vast network of scientific infrastructures, NEPHEWS offers actions aimed at researchers at different stages of their careers, with priority given to national users:

• Twinning – Integration of inexperienced researchers into experienced teams conducting similar experiments, promoting practical learning and data analysis. Travel and accommodation are reimbursed by the project.
• Support for Early Career Researchers – One-week internships at major European infrastructures, awarded through annual calls for applications and fully funded by NEPHEWS.
• Transnational Access to Facilities – Applications submitted on a timely basis at participating facilities. After the proposal is approved, the project reimburses travel and accommodation expenses.
• Online Training – Two-day training sessions, held semi-annually. The next edition will take place in February 2025 and will cover experimental techniques and procedures for preparing competitive proposals. Participation is free.

According to Rosen Georgiev, project manager at Trinity College Dublin, these actions represent “a significant opportunity for Portuguese researchers to expand their skills, strengthen their technical autonomy and increase the impact of their research”, including those developing cutting-edge work in units such as CICECO.