ECT* Transnactional Access
ECT*, within the Horizon Europe programme, receives support for Transnational Access as a Research Infrastructure for Nuclear Physics through the contract EURO-LABS under Grant Agreement No. 101057511. EURO-LABS started on September 1, 2022, and will run for the duration of four years. ECT* is committed to support the “Theory for Experiment” component of EURO-LABS.
Access includes local logistical, technical and scientific support as well as specific training, provided to external researchers using the infrastructure.
The European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas (ECT*) offers a broad spectrum of activities for early-career and established researchers, active in theoretical and experimental nuclear physics in the broadest sense, from all over the world (users). Scientific projects are carried out under the responsibility of the Scientific Board (Selection Panel) and with the supervision of the Director (Activity Leader). ECT* is based in Villazzano (Trento, Italy) at Villa Tambosi. It offers ample office space and conference rooms, different meeting rooms, a library and a canteen. Furthermore, the Centre is equipped with computing and networking facilities able to serve a wide range of needs.
All ECT* activities are open to all qualifying users. It is noted that participation is limited by the capacity of the Centre and goes through a selection procedure. Projects carried out at ECT* can be dedicated workshops, collaboration meetings and training programmes. The role of the projects is to enhance scientific cooperation, dissemination and discussion among participants to stimulate new scientific endeavours and develop joint research activities.
Partial or full financial support towards food and lodging, and occasionally, towards travel expenses is available.
Project proposals can be submitted online through an ECT* web interface. If you wish to submit a project proposal, please go to submitting a proposal.
Selection of projects and users is carried out by the ECT* Scientific Board as Selection Panel. The ECT* Scientific Board is composed of international leading scientists and has an excellent record of working efficiently and in accordance with scientific excellence.
The selection procedure is as follows.
1. The Scientific Board (Selection panel) selects projects and nominates project group leaders, based on submitted proposals, during its two or three annual meetings (usually in January, June, October).
2. Time schedule:
- January meeting: definition of major research topics, and possible projects for the next year followed by a call for proposals announced on the ECT* web page and disseminated to the community;
- June meeting: first selection of projects;
- October meeting: finalisatin of the programme of activities for the forthcoming year.
3. Selection criteria:
- Scientific excellence
- Timely and forefront scientific topics
- Balance between theoretical and experimental research
- Interdisciplinarity with other/related fields
- Professional status of the project leader and organisational skills
- Balance between nationalities, gender, career stage, and other characteristics
The selected projects, once approved by the Board, are announced on the web and publicized by email to the ECT* associates and to research institutions worldwide.
Eligibility criteria under EURO-LABS: to be eligible to benefit from access to the infrastructure under the contract, both the user group leader and the majority of the users must work in a country other than the country where the installation is located.
Access for user groups with a majority of users not working in a EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated countries limited to 20% of the total amount of units of access provided under the grant.
Only users groups that will disseminate the results they generate under the project are eligible, unless the users are working for SMEs.
Publications are required to acknowledge the EURO-LABS project: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 101057511 (EURO-LABS).