Nuclear and High Energy Physics explore at different scales what the universe is composed of and how it functions. Breakthroughs in accelerator and detector technologies combined with innovative experiments represent the key to new discoveries. High Energy Physics, while preparing for the HL-LHC, is pursuing the design of the next generation particle accelerators and detectors, balancing the present and the future. Newly available beams of nuclei far from stability and intense stable beams have opened new avenues, ranging from the production of new elements to the exploration of nuclear properties at extremes of temperature, angular momentum and isospin. It is of vital importance to simultaneously optimize the use of existing and new Research Infrastructures (RIs) to conduct curiosity-driven research addressing fundamental questions and technological challenges, and also advance projects with broad societal impact. This project provides efficient access to the available resources to a large fraction of EUROpean Laboratories for Accelerator Based Sciences (EURO-LABS). It allows the diverse community of users to choose the best state-of-the-art RI or a network of RIs to conduct high impact research, fostering knowledge sharing across scientific fields. The proposal brings together, for the first time, the three communities engaged in Nuclear Physics, Accelerator and Detector technology for High Energy Physics, pioneering a super community of sub-atomic researchers. It allows a synergic implementation of best practices for data management and activities relating to targeted service improvements at these RIs. Joint training activities are foreseen to develop the skills of the next generation researchers to optimally use the RIs services for scientific and technological discoveries. EURO-LABS will create synergies and collaborations between the RIs of the Nuclear and High Energy communities, enhancing Europe's potential for successfully facing future challenges.

Successful interim storage and final disposal of radioactive waste (RW) requires effective characterization and quality control of the waste. CHANCE aims to address the as yet unsolved and specific issue of the characterization of conditioned radioactive waste (CRW). CHANCE will establish a comprehensive understanding of current characterization methods and quality control schemes for conditioned radioactive waste in Europe. Furthermore, CHANCE will develop, test and validate already-identified and novel new techniques that will undoubtedly improve the characterization of CRW. Input from “end users” (mainly WMOs and waste producers) on methods of CRW characterization is critical to the success of CHANCE. Therefore, a dedicated End-Users Group will be established within CHANCE in order to represent and promote the interests and requirements of end-users. One of the project’s key tasks will be dedicated to the identification of links and overlaps between waste acceptance criteria and actual waste characterization technologies available, in order to identify specific, as yet unsolved, methodology issues and technology gaps. CHANCE’s R&D programme consists of the testing and evaluation of the performance of 3 innovative characterization techniques that are complementary and supplementary to current techniques for the non-destructive assay of RW, specifically: • Calorimetry as an innovative non-destructive technique to reduce uncertainties on the inventory of radionuclides (RN), namely from hidden RN-compounds with a weak gamma signal. • Muon Tomography to address the specific issue of the non-destructive interrogation of the content of large volume RW. • Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy as an innovative technique to characterize outgassing of RW at a very low detection level. The activities performed and the results obtained within CHANCE will be integrated and disseminated both between the partners and the whole European community involved in RW management.

Particle accelerators are a key asset of the European Research Area. Their use spans from the large installations devoted to fundamental science to a wealth of facilities providing X-ray or neutron beams to a wide range of scientific disciplines. Beyond scientific laboratories, their use in medicine and industry is rapidly growing. Notwithstanding their high level of maturity, particle accelerators are now facing critical challenges related to the size and performance of the facilities envisaged for the next step of particle physics research, to the increasing demands to accelerators for applied science, and to the specific needs of societal applications. In this crucial moment for accelerator evolution, I.FAST aims at enhancing innovation in and from accelerator-based Research Infrastructures (RI) by developing innovative breakthrough technologies common to multiple accelerator platforms, and by defining strategic roadmaps for future developments. I.FAST will focus the technological R&D on long-term sustainability of accelerator-based research, with the goal of developing more performant and affordable technologies, and of reducing power consumption and impact of accelerator facilities, thus paving the way to a sustainable next-generation of accelerators. By involving industry as a co-innovation partner via the 17 industrial companies in the Consortium, 12 of which SME’s, I.FASTwill generate and maintain an innovation ecosystem around the accelerator-based RIs that will sustain the long-term evolution of accelerator technologies in Europe. To achieve its goals, I.FAST will explore new alternative accelerator concepts and promote advanced prototyping of key technologies. These include, among others, techniques to increase brightness and reduce dimensions of synchrotron light sources, advanced superconducting technologies to produce higher fields with lower consumption, and strategies and technologies to improve energy efficiency.