11. December 2024
The UK International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) has established a strategic partnership between research facilities in the UK and Switzerland, as was reported in a press release. On the Swiss side, the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen in the canton of Aargau will participate. The UK facilities ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and the Diamond Light Source will collaborate with the PSI to develop new capabilities for science using neutrons, muons and X-rays. These organizations are located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Chilton, Oxfordshire, in the UK.
“This is a strong partnership which Switzerland is keen to develop further,” commented Christian Ruegg, PSI Director. “The Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, SERI, has just announced additional Swiss funding to complement the UK ISPF award.”
In November, the first full collaboration meeting was held at RAL, when 50 scientists and technologists from ISIS, Diamond Light Source and PSI facilities gathered to discuss their projects and plan future activities.
Researchers and technical teams from the three organizations have already worked in close collaboration for many years. The ISPF funding will allow an extension of collaborations into new research areas in both countries. Around 16 projects will be taken forward as part of the program, with 16 early-career postdoctoral researchers employed to work between the facilities. ce/gba
