News of April 12, 2020

„SuperEMFL“ and „ISABEL“

European Union awards EMFL consortium 7.8 million Euro funding

Together with partners, the three European Magnetic Field Laboratories, joined in EMFL, have been awarded two EU Horizon 2020 grants: one to develop all-superconducting user magnets beyond 40 Tesla (2.9 million Euro), and one to expand EMFL’s industrial and user community (4.9 million Euro). With these grants, EMFL will strengthen its long-term sustainability and invest in the design of beyond-state-of-the-art magnets.
Magnetspule in der Nahaufnahme ©Copyright: HZDR/Oliver Killig

Magnetic coil in close-up view

Photo: HZDR/Oliver Killig Download

Some recent advances open the way for the implementation of fully superconducting magnets, combining low- and high-temperature superconductor (HTS) technology for the magnets at the EMFL facilities in Nijmegen (High Field Magnet Laboratory – HFML), Grenoble / Toulouse (Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses – LNCMI) and Dresden (Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory – HLD).

“These magnets will partly replace current high-field resistive magnets, leading to a significantly lower energy consumption and new scientific possibilities”, says Prof. Joachim Wosnitza, Director of EMFL and HLD. The participating scientists see new opportunities in areas such as material characterization and processing, chemistry and biology. These prospects may also enhance the competitiveness of the industrial partners involved, because they offer the potential to initiate spin-offs, for example in medical imaging or in the areas of energy transport and storage.

The EMFL also aims to ensure its long-term sustainability by bridging the remaining gap with industry. At the same time, the consortium is working to strengthen the role of high magnetic field research in Europe. Key to this is to offer a better service to industrial users and an active transfer of EMFL technology. Important goals are to increase the number of EMFL members and the improvement of several organizational aspects, such as data management, outreach, and access procedures.

Background information

The EU Horizon 2020 program INFRADEV aims to support the development of world-class research infrastructures which will help Europe to tackle grand challenges in science, industry, and society. It facilitates and supports the implementation and long-term sustainability of the research infrastructures identified by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and of other world-class research infrastructures. There are several INFRADEV programs. The Design Study program “SuperEMFL” offers the financial support to develop all-superconducting user magnets above 40 Tesla. The expansion of the industrial and user community falls under “Individual support to ESFRI and other world-class research infrastructures” (ISABEL). Both projects have a duration of 4 years.


Additional information:

Prof. Joachim Wosnitza
Director
European Magnetic Field Laboratory (EMFL)
Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory at HZDR
Phone: +49 351 260 3524 | Email: j.wosnitza@hzdr.de