By means of introduction, could you summarise the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology’s (IWS’) core activities?

Fraunhofer IWS undertakes application-orientated research and aims at the development of new innovative technologies especially for small- and medium-sized companies without internal R&D departments. In addition, long-term strategic R&D projects are often carried out with larger companies. Our research in the area of laser and surface technology is focused on customised solutions to problems. Our mission, however, is not accomplished unless our customer earns money with our solution. Therefore, we accompany our customers throughout the process of transferring research results into industrial practice.

As mentioned, your main speciality is laser and surface technology. Broadly speaking, what does this work involve and where can this technology be applied?

Our research covers laser materials processing as well as surface technologies from nanotechnology to macromaterials processing. To optimise services for our customers, we also investigate and develop alternative technologies, eg. in plasma, induction and magnetic technologies or bonding. Our research results find application in a wide range of business fields, such as optical, energy, mechanical, medical, automotive and aerospace engineering, just to give some examples.

In terms of your research developing laser-based processes and systems for ablation and cutting procedures, what success have you witnessed?

In this area, we have developed and transferred a lot of innovations into series production over the past few years. The more innovative these technologies are, the less we are allowed to publicise details, because, of course, no company with a competitive advantage in technology would like to lose it.

Can you highlight the new technologies Fraunhofer IWS is developing for the joining of metallic and non-metallic materials?

Presently, the joining of different materials is a very interesting research area, where several technologies can be applied. Therefore, we have founded the Centre for Tailored Joining, in which we integrate experts from the Technische Universität (TU) Dresden and house many technologies, including laser soldering, laser welding and laser hybrid welding, as well as friction stir welding, electromagnetic pulse welding, pressure welding and bonding. At present, we are focusing our efforts towards laser welding on fast laser beam modulation or oscillation.

With regards to chemical surface and reaction technology, how is Fraunhofer IWS drawing on its wealth of experience to improve the functionality of surfaces?

We have a series of measurement devices for the characterisation of materials at our disposal. These measurements are, of course, relative and have to be confirmed on-site, ie. in the premises of the customer under adapted testing conditions. Furthermore, functional checks and component testing are essential as well.

Within the business field of physical vapour deposition (PVD) coating and nanotechnology, Fraunhofer IWS develops and researches processes to fabricate various coatings and coating systems. What techniques are you employing to advance this research?

PVD coating is in competition with the often lower-priced chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and thermal suspension spraying methods. As Fraunhofer IWS offers all three technologies, we can recommend to our customers the most suitable process for their particular requirements. As an example, to increase the storage density of electrical components, smaller and smaller structures are necessary. Therefore, wavelengths in the extreme ultraviolet range have to be used for exposure processes. For the manufacturing of suitable mirrors, nanocoatings have to be deposited via the PVD process. These nanocoatings and diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are very successfully deposited on components. Over the past few years, we have transferred several devices into industrial series production.

Do you carry out some of your research with universities and other leading research institutions?

In February 2009, TU Dresden formed an elite research alliance with Dresden’s research institutions – the DRESDEN concept. In this network, 11 institutions from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, three institutes from the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, three institutes from the Leibniz-Gemeinschaft and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf collaborate with TU Dresden to create synergies benefiting research, graduate education and scientific infrastructure.

The partners develop location strategies and implement them in joint research projects. Examples are large projects regarding energy efficiency and battery development; topics where bundled expert knowledge is needed and therefore close cooperation of many partners is absolutely necessary. Although one of the advantages of this local collaboration is the short distance between the partners, of course we also work with other Fraunhofer institutes as well as research institutions and universities outside Dresden.

Is there a range of applications that the nanotechnology you are developing can be used for?

Nanotechnology offers a wide range of applications, mostly with respect to nanocoatings, nanoparticles and nanostructures. Regarding nanocoatings, there are coating systems for different application fields. For example, carbon nanotubes fabricated in Fraunhofer IWS are used to improve the conductivity of polymers. Furthermore, they find application in the manufacturing of batteries and supercaps, and nanometre multilayers are also used for the production of soldering foils, among other materials.

Close collaboration between entrepreneurs and researchers is essential to quickly and effectively commercialise the results of this strategic technology. Therefore, Fraunhofer IWS established a nanotechnology innovation cluster – Nano for Production – in 2006.

What are some of the areas in clean energy that Fraunhofer IWS is researching, and what success have you seen? How is nanotechnology offering unique features for improved performance?

Energy efficiency and energy storage are two of the focal research areas of Fraunhofer IWS. Energy efficiency topics include friction reduction with DLC coatings; the reduction of eddy-current losses and the increase of conductivity in transformer sheets; and thermal barrier coatings and heat recycling, eg. the direct recovery of electrical power out of heat through thermoelectricity.

But the greatest challenge of our decade is energy storage. Our Institute is especially involved in the development of novel energy storage systems, such as supercaps, lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulphur batteries and lithium-sodium batteries. For these topics, our competences in the area of nano- and coating technology are very helpful, and our know-how regarding laser cutting and welding, as well as bonding, is essential for the fabrication of cells and modules.

At the end of 2012, one of your researchers – Dr Michael Panzer – was one of the first to apply terahertz (THz) technology to analyse a work of art. Could you offer details of this significant advance?

Yes, Michael Panzner was one of the first who had the idea to apply THz technology to art objects. In the project TERAART funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), he investigated the potential and limits of visualising hidden medieval wall paintings covered by different materials like plaster or whitewash using THz radiation. During the project, a special THz scanner was built on the basis of the THz-time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) principle. THz-TDS offers spectroscopic as well as tomographic investigative possibilities. Our system is very robust and suitable for ‘out-of-lab’ investigations in churches or on building sites.

Parallel to these investigations, the scientists have been working on realising the detection of biocides by THz-TDS. The contamination of wooden or textile art objects by biocides is a problem for a large number of museums. Our vision is to use our THz out-of-lab scanner to detect the contaminated area very precisely. This would enable much more effective decontamination strategies.

Is Fraunhofer IWS involved in any significant EU Framework Programme-funded projects, eg. LIFT?

The LIFT project, which IWS manages as the consortium leader, will establish international leadership for Europe in scientific, application and production technologies for material processing by fibre lasers. Therefore, the development and evaluation of innovative laser sources is the project goal. If achieved, Europe would take advantage of novel laser sources for various processing applications, many of which even state-of-the-art-lasers cannot be used for currently.

IWS is also the consortium leader of three European projects in the field of nanotechnology. These projects – Nano To Production (N2P), Process Line Implementation for Applied Surface Nanotechnologies (PLIANT) and Nanoporous Metal-Organic Frameworks for production (NanoMOF) – are focused on materials and manufacturing processes for technologies that promote sustainable energy like solar energy or novel energy storage devices. Through the coordination of such projects with approximately 20 partners each and our international network, we also find new partners for basic research-orientated projects.

An important aspect of the Institute’s work is encouraging the next generation into careers in the sector. Could you explain why you have created Girls’ Day? Is there a shortage of female applied scientists in Germany?

Girls’ Day is a nationwide event, where enterprises, universities and research centres are invited to host an open day for girls, and it piques great interest in Germany, Europe and beyond. For Fraunhofer IWS, Girls’ Day offers the perfect opportunity to attract girls to a technical career, because we believe that the ideas, enthusiasm and skills of women are needed, especially in professional fields that have not traditionally been appealing to women. Fraunhofer offers excellent working conditions, particularly with regard to the reconciliation of work and family life.

Further to this, are there examples that you could give of other initiatives that you host to attract people into science?

One very successful model is the ‘Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften’ (The Long Night of Sciences), an initiative run by the network Dresden – City of Sciences that started in 2002. Every year about 35,000 visitors, mostly parents with their children or youngsters, visit the labs of research institutes and universities, and experience more than 100 special events, movies, presentations, experiments and exhibitions relating to science. The scientists explain and describe their research and their visions of the future in a plain and simple way, and thus make research hands-on, comprehensible and attractive to the public – a very fascinating experience from both perspectives.

www.iws.fraunhofer.de

For those who are unaware, what is the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)?

The SKA will be the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope. Thousands of linked radio wave receptors will extend over huge distances across deserts in Australia and South Africa. The SKA will unravel the most profound mysteries of humanity; investigating how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang, how dark energy is accelerating the expansion of the Universe, the role of magnetism in the cosmos, the nature of gravity, and even searching for life beyond Earth.

Having recently assumed the role of Director General, what skills and experiences will you bring to the role? Has the transition been a smooth one?

I have 30 years of experience in the field of radio astronomy and a longstanding involvement in the SKA radio telescope project. Having worked as a professional astronomer in five countries – the UK, Sweden, Germany, the US and Australia – I am accustomed to such an international astronomy environment. I have been the Director of two leading radio astronomy organisations: Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics in the UK and more recently CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science (CASS) in Australia. As Chief of CASS, I was responsible for the team designing and constructing ASKAP, the Australian SKA precursor telescope. I also directed the operation of two major facilities: the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF) and the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex (CDSCC), part of NASA’s Deep Space Network.

I chaired the SKA Science and Engineering Committee in 2005-06, which, along with my previous involvement in other aspects of the SKA project, means that I am already well-acquainted with many of the people involved. This, in combination with a good working knowledge of how the project operates, has stood me in good stead for a smooth transition.

Could you outline the role that you foresee the SKA playing in the context of future astrophysics and cosmology?

The SKA is being designed to address five fundamental unanswered questions:

• What is dark energy?

• Was Einstein right about gravity?

• What generates giant magnetic fields in space?

• How were the first black holes and stars formed?

• Are we alone?

These questions spark interest that extends far beyond the science community, having the potential to impact on everyone. In addition, while this is itself truly exciting and transformational science, history has shown that many of the greatest discoveries in astronomy have happened unexpectedly. The exceptional sensitivity and resolution of the SKA presents a very real chance that it could uncover genuinely new phenomena.

At what stage is the project presently?

We are now entering the preconstruction phase of the project which runs until the end of 2015. During this time the SKA engineering team will work with international partners to develop a detailed design for the telescope and will prepare for the start of construction in 2016. The SKA will be built in two phases and the second phase will start in 2020. The full telescope is scheduled for completion in 2024.

What are the main roles and responsibilities of the SKA Organisation?

The SKA Organisation is the central entity that coordinates the work of the international partners on the detailed design, preparations for construction and development of operational plans for the telescope. In mid-2013 the SKA Organisation will award packages of work to groups of partner institutes and companies that will be responsible for delivering large portions of the engineering design and development. These work package consortia will be coordinated by the SKA Organisation.

Which other countries are involved with the SKA Organisation? How do they each contribute and support the project?

There are currently 10 full members of the SKA Organisation: Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the UK (India is an associate member). Every full SKA member appoints two representatives to the Board of Directors and makes a contribution towards the running of the SKA headquarters. Further members are expected to join the SKA Organisation in the near future.

Have you come up against any major challenges regarding the geographical, political and cultural management of the project?

The huge scale of the project is in itself a challenge and this is, of course, made more complex – and more interesting – by the diverse geographical locations, political considerations and cultural backgrounds of our partnering colleagues. However, the motivation for building the SKA comes from scientists who are accustomed to working in international collaborations and who are experienced in overcoming the challenges that these may present. International mega-science projects like the SKA enhance and reinforce international relations between countries that might not normally work together; they break down barriers, bridge political divisions and encourage interaction in an open and mutually beneficial environment.

How is the SKA drawing on the experience of precursor telescopes?

SKA technology is being demonstrated with precursor telescopes around the world. The lessons learnt in these projects both in terms of engineering design and in the operation of the facilities will be taken into account during the detailed design phase for the SKA.

The engineering team recently visited the SKA sites in South Africa and Australia to meet with the engineering and management staff and see the infrastructure and systems already in place. The information they gathered over the course of their visits is being used to help develop detailed implementation plans for the integration of the ASKAP and MeerKAT precursor telescopes, and associated infrastructure, into phase one of the SKA.

Which receptor technologies are being examined for consideration by the project?

The SKA will use 3,000 traditional dish-style receptors, each 15 m in diameter, complemented with hundreds of thousands of novel, smaller radio wave receptors, known as aperture arrays that greatly increase the field of view. The dishes, and low- and mid-frequency aperture arrays will provide continuous frequency coverage from 70 MHz-10 GHz. Combining the signals from these receptors will create a telescope equivalent to a dish with a collecting area of about 1 km2.

What are the five main science areas that will be explored when the SKA has been successfully completed?

Never before has there been such a versatile instrument with sufficient sensitivity and resolution to thoroughly address the following fundamental areas of physics and astronomy:

• Galaxy evolution, cosmology and dark energy – the relatively recently discovered acceleration in the expansion of the Universe has been attributed to a mysterious dark energy. The SKA will investigate this expansion, and the evolution of galaxies, by mapping the cosmic distribution of hydrogen

• Strong-field tests of gravity using pulsars and black holes – the SKA will investigate the nature of gravity and challenge the theory of general relativity by observing the influence of very strong gravitational fields on pulsars, the collapsed spinning cores of dead stars

• The origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism – the SKA will create three-dimensional maps of cosmic magnets to understand how they stabilise galaxies, influence the formation of stars and planets, and regulate solar and stellar activity

• Probing the Dark Ages – the SKA will look back to the Dark Ages, a time before the Universe lit up, to discover how the earliest black holes and stars were formed

• The cradle of life – the SKA will be able to detect very weak extra-terrestrial signals and will search for complex molecules – the building blocks of life – in space. Molecular studies are a particular interest of mine, pursued over many years with a variety of telescopes. I will be looking forward to using the SKA to continue to develop this work

Can you envisage spinoff benefits from the construction and operation of the SKA?

The increased capability offered by the SKA will result in a corresponding dramatic increase in the amount of data that will be collected and transmitted using high speed networks (such as GÉANT). The dishes alone will generate approximately 10 times the current global internet traffic, while fully functioning aperture array receptors will further increase data rates to more than 100 times the current global internet traffic! These colossal amounts of data present huge challenges in data transport, data storage and supercomputing.

Potential spinoff technologies in this area include applications that require high-speed detection and analysis; for example, intelligent surveillance for the recognition of faces in a crowd, tracking weather systems and traffic flow, and monitoring financial markets. The SKA will also have considerable energy needs and so can be used as a test-bed for low-power engineering innovations and novel methods of remote power generation – both of which could have far-reaching spinoff benefits for society.

The design and construction of the SKA will generate business and employment opportunities in science and engineering and also in associated support industries. It is also important to appreciate that mega-science projects like the SKA have the potential to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, and increased uptake of science and engineering subjects at university is, in itself, known to ultimately benefit a country’s economy.

www.skatelescope.org

To begin, could you describe the principal aims of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)?

Besides encouraging the application of mathematics to engineering, industry and society, promoting applied mathematics research, and sponsoring journals and conferences, SIAM’s mission has also always included a commitment to advancing the computational sciences. It’s no coincidence, after all, that SIAM’s fourth President (John Mauchly, 1955-56) co-invented the first digital computer – ENIAC – in Philadelphia, where SIAM still has its headquarters.

What historical factors brought SIAM together?

SIAM was created in 1952, shortly after Brown University established the first department of applied mathematics in 1946, followed closely by the Courant Institute and the California Institute of Technology (CalTech). These first applied mathematics programmes were founded partly in response to an influential National Research Council (NRC) report to Congress in 1940, which highlighted the growing importance of applied mathematics to industry and the national interest. In fact, as early as 1928, some leading industrial companies like Bell Labs had already created their own mathematics groups. The NRC report urged American universities to start training mathematicians for this type of work, an activity that is still core to what SIAM is all about.

How does SIAM work with media, institutions, academia, corporations and the general public to advance the application of mathematics and computational science to engineering, industry, science and society?

SIAM has always had as one of its core missions the promotion of greater dialogue and exchange between our members and their peers in industry, as well as with the rest of society, which is why we’ve put a special emphasis on the Society’s 15 research journals, its many research conferences, as well as a series of monographs on applied mathematics and computational science. Throughout, we’ve worked hard to emphasise as much as possible interdisciplinary research, including where it applies to such diverse fields as imaging, finance and medicine. These various tools help our members distribute their work as widely as possible.

SIAM also serves its membership by offering prizes and awarding fellowships to recognise truly outstanding research, and by providing valuable information on existing academic programmes and careers in applied mathematics and computing, particularly in the monthly SIAM News newspaper.

Informing the broader scientific community and the general public is also a high priority, which is why SIAM has invested heavily in outreach through social media, public lectures and online items such as Mathematical Nuggets. But perhaps the most important contribution SIAM can make to advancing the application of mathematics and computational science to engineering, industry, science and society is to foster a new generation of students and scientific professionals through a growing network of student chapters.

As the newly appointed President of SIAM, what is your vision for the Society and in which direction will you be taking the organisation during your term?

SIAM as an organisation is uniquely positioned to facilitate crucial dialogue and important research in today’s rapidly changing world, where green energy technologies continue to mature, cloud computing transforms our digital world and new materials upend industry after industry. To make the most of this moment, I believe we need to re-energise and reinforce what I’ve termed the two ‘I’s of SIAM: partnering with industry and deepening our international (and particularly student) network. We need to increase our ties and collaborations with the growing technology industry, to name but one sector, not only by better disseminating the meaningful research conducted by our members but also by encouraging more interchange of ideas and career paths. And we need to keep growing SIAM’s student network — now with over 100 chapters worldwide — in fast-growing Asia, the Middle East and Latin America in order to cultivate the next generation of mathematical and computational scientists.

2013 is the International Year of Mathematics of Planet Earth (MPE 2013). How will the Society contribute to this?

As one of the original sponsoring organisations of MPE 2013, SIAM has been intimately involved in the planning of this significant and exciting year-long programme that examines what mathematics can teach us about the world’s defining challenges, be it the spread of global disease or better understanding extreme climate change. Throughout 2013, many SIAM conferences – including the Society’s Annual Meeting – will focus on MPE as one of their primary themes. SIAM News will also devote significant coverage to MPE events and discussions, and we expect SIAM members to participate widely in the various forums and lectures, as well as contributing to the official MPE blog.

To what extent is SIAM involved in science policy and funding?

SIAM has an active Committee on Science Policy — of which I’ve been a member since 2008 — that meets twice a year and has two primary missions. The first is to engage in and monitor legislative and policy developments at the federal level that interest and impact SIAM members. The other is to promote the visibility of the applied mathematics and computational science communities within the federal government. Both are accomplished mainly through meetings with the relevant funding agencies and policy makers in Washington, including during the Committee’s annual visit to Capitol Hill to advocate on behalf of our discipline and our members to congressional leaders on science policy.

In your opinion, do mathematicians still find it difficult to collaborate with experts from other disciplines, or is it becoming increasingly common for pure mathematicians to delve into applied fields?

Fortunately, the trend towards greater inter- and multidisciplinary collaboration in mathematics is headed in the right direction. And certainly applied mathematicians are leading the way here, as evidenced by SIAM’s membership, 40 per cent of whom have affiliations in fields outside mathematics. After all, it is the nature of applied mathematics to bridge the gap between mathematical research and its applications in engineering and science – a large part of SIAM’s mission is to serve as that interface.

However, more can still be done, and SIAM should strive to deepen collaboration and exchange between the applied mathematics community and the technology world, emerging industries and neighbouring disciplines where mathematics is proving itself to be increasingly important.

Does SIAM provide help or guidance for academic applied mathematicians wanting to move into industry?

SIAM offers plenty of resources for applied mathematicians and our members wishing to deepen their collaborations with industry or even move into industry. We’ve produced two reports on Mathematics in Industry — including one last year — that provide students and academics with information on what industry seeks and needs. We also produce a careers brochure targeted at students.

When it comes to guiding professionals and SIAM’s members towards career opportunities in other areas, every issue of SIAM News contains job listings, many in industry. Industrial career fairs and panel sessions are held at every SIAM Annual Meeting, open to all our members. And you can normally expect a healthy contingent of the Society’s industrial members and partners on hand at most SIAM conferences, ready and willing to provide insight and guidance to their academic colleagues.

Can you describe SIAM’s presence in Europe, and is this presence growing?

At the moment, nearly 40 per cent of SIAM’s non-student members are based outside the US, with a large proportion of those coming from Europe. A slightly smaller fraction (25 per cent) of student members are from outside the US, though both the fraction of student and non-student members from Europe have been growing over the past decade. Also, about one third of all submissions to SIAM journals now come from Europe.

SIAM has recently introduced a new journal – SIAM/ASA Journal on Uncertainty Quantification (JUQ). Was there a growing call for a new journal in this field, and how do you hope it will contribute to mathematical understanding?

Like many of SIAM’s existing journals, JUQ was created in response to community interest. Uncertainty quantification (UQ) was starting to show up as a major theme in several conferences, including the SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering. In 2012, SIAM even held its first conference focused on UQ, which attracted an impressive 400 participants, and plans to repeat it every two years. This growing interest in UQ among computational, engineering and statistical scientists prompted groups from SIAM and the American Statistical Association to petition for a new journal to serve UQ researchers. As such, we expect JUQ to closely follow and guide this exciting new field.

SIAM honours its members who have contributed in an outstanding way through its Fellows programme. How are these Fellows selected?

SIAM designates Fellows as those members who have made outstanding contributions to the various fields served by the Society. While research excellence is certainly one criterion for selection, excellence in industrial work and educational activities reaching broader audiences are also highly valued. I certainly want to highlight the Fellows, who are each being recognised for a reason, but also the past Presidents of SIAM. They have all played such hugely important roles, and the Society wouldn’t be where it is today without the outstanding SIAM Presidents who have come before me. That said, SIAM boasts a rich community of distinguished scholars and researchers, and I wholeheartedly look forward to many more of the Society’s members being recognised as Fellows in the years to come.

What other prizes and recognition does SIAM endorse to reward members that have contributed to applied mathematics?

Besides the Fellows programme, SIAM sponsors a plethora of awards for everything from lifetime achievement and distinguished service in the profession to significant advances in a number of research areas within applied mathematics and computational science. Furthermore, many of our activity groups also offer prizes in their own areas.

How important is collaboration between mathematical societies such as SIAM and other bodies in furthering innovation in science and technology?

As discussed, our mission is, first and foremost, to promote applied mathematics and the contributions it can make to engineering, science, industry and society. As the major international applied mathematics society, that mission extends to researchers and industry across the globe. Therefore, we greatly value collaboration with other applied mathematics societies, and have existing relationships with the International Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (GAMM) in Germany, Société de Mathématiques Appliquées et Industrielles (SMAI) in France and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) in the UK, just to name a few. SIAM is also a founding member of the International Council for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, an umbrella group that counts many of the world’s applied mathematics societies as members.

www.siam.org

Combining advanced materials and manufacturing skills with understanding of real application needs, today’s material scientists could provide the critical solutions to shape our future – in particular, to tackle the challenges of dwindling natural resources, increasing global energy consumption and climate change.

The Tekes Functional Materials Programme has taken up this challenge and systematically built key enablers to renew Finnish industry through ambitious application-driven R&D on sustainable materials and energy-efficient manufacturing. Our intensive, target-orientated industry/academia cooperation has resulted in scientific novelties and new business bases, for solar energy, printed intelligence and biomedical applications. And this progress is not only for Finland – the results will have a global impact.

The backbone of Tekes’ strategy

Global competition for raw materials is fierce. Productive land and clean water are becoming scarce resources, while the demand for biomass is expected to increase. Finland has relatively rich natural resources and a high level of know-how and competencies. This means that the country has particular opportunities to promote the sustainable and innovative use of its resources to secure national wellbeing. Success and continuous renewal of industries is a precondition for sustainable growth and the wellbeing of people and the environment.

Tekes is targeting these goals in its strategy. It has selected six content areas expected to play a key role in the success of Finnish enterprises and research. Sustainable use of energy and natural resources, as well as versatile and responsible exploitation of renewable natural resources are highlighted as competitive factors in building a sustainable economy for businesses, offering diverse opportunities both in Finland and abroad. Four priorities in the area are:

• Energy and raw material efficiency

• Renewable energy solutions

• New forest and biomass solutions

• Sustainable solutions for mineral resource use and water consumption

These focus areas are reflected in the dedicated Research Programmes managed by Tekes and selections of strategic new research openings. Current ongoing programmes in the focus areas are: Functional Materials, Green Mining and Green Growth.

Functional materials

Traditional definitions of natural resources often focus on raw materials. They highlight the following three key points: the existence of natural deposits, being of value to people and consisting of exploitable material. In new definitions, the commercial and exploitative perspective is supplemented by environmental impact. Material efficiency means that products and services are produced competitively with a smaller material input, so that harmful impacts are minimised throughout the product life cycle. Efficient use of materials also generates significant cost savings. Understanding the overall environmental impact of a product during its whole life cycle is important to making good choices of functional materials early on. Today, the consumption of materials in industrial countries is around 31-74 tonnes per capita. Sustainable functional materials and efficient, additive manufacturing technologies will play a key role in reducing this figure and making full use of materials.

From deep science to real business

The Functional Materials programme (2007-13), managed by Tekes, has driven focused application-orientated R&D on materials and nanotechnology to create new solutions for selected areas, such as biomedicine, renewable energy and manufacturing. Programme activities include close cooperation between top players in academia and industry, effective commercialisation of research results and building global value chains.

A multidisciplinary approach, active international cooperation and sustainability emphasising holistic life-cycle thinking, and material and energy efficiency are essential elements in all Functional Materials projects. Although our portfolio, consisting of 56 research consortia projects and about 80 company projects, covers a wide range of material and application fields, special focus has been placed on material solutions for energy technologies, advanced manufacturing (especially coatings), printed intelligence and biomaterials.

Energy harvesting

Solar energy is the key to solving global energy challenges. Each year, over 1,080,000,000 terawatt hours of solar power shines on the Earth – about 60,000 times the current global electricity use. Today, the solar energy field is hot, both in terms of research and practical operations, but still more efficient and robust solar cells and thermal collector systems are needed. We have boosted R&D by effectively utilising specific know-how on coating technologies. This has already brought several significant novelties in R&D and industry:

• Beneq has developed and commercialised an online deposition method for transparent conductive oxide (TCO) coatings on large-area flat glass to achieve a cost-effective coating process for photovoltaics (PVs) and lowemissivity coatings for energy windows

• Savosolar, which has created high-performance, high-temperature-resistant full aluminium flat plate solar-thermal collectors, was awarded the Inter Solar Award in 2011

• PolarSol, in turn, has brought a novel stainless steel-based absorber system to industrial manufacturing

• Aurubis Finland demonstrated an architecturally unique prepatinated copper façade at Pori Swimming Hall with embedded solar thermal collectors

In addition, our research projects are providing novel solutions regarding, for example, high-efficiency (>40 per cent) concentrated PVs as well as robust, flexible, low-cost dye-sensitised solar cells.

Effective energy storage and recycling

Effective energy storage is necessary to fully utilise the power of the Sun and more efficient novel solar cells. Electric/hybrid cars, consumer electronics and other appliances demand more and more electricity, which has to be easily and readily available. This calls for novel batteries and capacitors that are lightweight, stable and safe, and have high energy and power density.

Companies like OMG, Sachtleben and several university groups have focused research activities on new materials and manufacturing methods for next-generation energy storage. European Batteries has developed industrial scale Li-ion batteries for electric vehicles, heavy machinery and storage of renewable energy sources. Akkuser Oy specialises in taking care of the end-of-life phase through environmentally sound and effective recycling of all kinds of batteries. Our recent research results have demonstrated new battery materials that are both high performance and environmentally safe.

Energy-efficient manufacturing

We have driven printed intelligence R&D in Finland, partnering with key players and building target-orientated international cooperations focusing on industrial applications, scalable materials and energy-efficient roll-to-roll processing, proof-of-concept development and creation of business. The key is to combine materials and processing know-how with applications such as smart packaging, diagnostics, organic electronics, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), lighting and solar cells. Focused research is conducted at several universities and VTT, which today has excellent pilot-scale manufacturing facilities.

Several SMEs have already transferred their recent research to industrial applications:

• Beneg has developed the first industrial roll-to-roll atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment, efficiently providing the critical barrier coatings for flexible electronics and PVs

• Canatu manufactures unique flexible, highly transparent, conductive carbon nanomaterial-based thin films for customised touch sensors and formable 3D (three-dimensional) touch modules. This provides a superior alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) which is brittle and based on scarce natural resources

• Iscent produces printable holographic-like light-scattering films for smart packaging and security applications by hot embossing technology – without any inks or metals

These companies represent novel state-of-the-art industrial roll-to-roll manufacturing capabilities providing key enablers for new businesses in an environmentally sound way. In addition, our research projects are offering new openings regarding printed solar cells, movement sensors, paper-based low-cost electronics and diagnostics, skin treatment and even printing of human cells.

Human spare parts

As our population ages, the needs of the elderly create a great strain on our healthcare system. Thanks to active lifestyles, younger generations also keep orthopaedists busy. This calls for new, effective medical treatments and biocompatible human spare parts. Luckily, we have good news in regard to fixing bone fractures.

Vivoxid has developed novel bioresorbable fibre-reinforced composites for load-bearing orthopaedic implants – the strongest fully resorbable material available for human implants; up to six times stronger than cortical bone. This strength and biodegradability can be widely tuned to enable appropriate recovery times. Very recently, this unique technology was acquired by Purac Biomaterials. Ozics, in turn, has just commercialised injectable high-strength bone cement – an easy-to-use material that will significantly improve clinical outcomes and reduce treatment costs. Regarding soft tissues, a novel cell therapy treatment for severe skin damage has been developed at the University of Helsinki. This exciting result will soon be applied to cure heart diseases with a topmost research group at Osaka University in Japan. And other projects are investigating cartilage repair, three-dimensional (3D) tissue models and porous scaffolds mimicking the structure and composition of the targeted tissue to promote differentiation of stem cells and tissue growth.

Advanced biomaterials

Advanced materials open paths to numerous new applications. Though our emphasis is on application-driven R&D, tailoring new materials with controlled or designed functional properties – like self-cleaning, self-healing, responsiveness or sensing – is also important. A biomimetic approach, learning from Nature how to design and manufacture materials, is fascinating but still challenging. However, wider use of natural bio-based materials is necessary, as it will be the backbone of the bio-economy which we are building bit by bit. The range of research conducted in Finland on bio-based materials, especially nanocellulose or microfibrillated cellulose, has already led to significant advances in paper, packaging and composites applications, but this new ‘miracle material’ also has great potential as a rheology modifier for food, cosmetics or paints, transparent thin films, coatings, barrier layers, hygiene and absorbent products, etc.

A good example of the novel opportunities and highly multidisciplinary nature of the Functional Materials programme is the research conducted by Helsinki University scientists proving that a special grade of nanocellulose (fibril cellulose) is an excellent medium for human cell growth. This result will have an impact on drug and chemical testing, and maybe also for tissue engineering in the future.

Now that a lot of basic research has been done and companies like UPM and Stora Enso have built industrial pilot-scale manufacturing units, it is time for us to aim for new application areas.

www.tekes.fi/programmes/Materiaalit

www.spinverse.com/reference/large-scale-innovation-programme-tekes-functional-materials-programme/

To begin, can you provide an overview of the Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC)? When was it established and what does its remit entail?

CEITEC is a multidisciplinary research centre covering the fields of life sciences and advanced materials and technologies which was established by the EC on 6 June 2011. CEITEC is a consortium whose partners include the most prominent universities and research institutes in Brno, Czech Republic. The research is divided into seven research programmes and 64 groups.

By the nature of our structure as a consortium, we must work within the framework of our six different partners, which can be very challenging. The governance of this consortium is represented by all of the partners and put within a legal framework under a partnership agreement. The underlying premise for the formation of CEITEC was to improve the research potential of our organisation and the region in general, but also to act as a catalyst to spark transformation in how research is being performed in the Czech Republic.

How has Brno evolved to become a recognised hub for European science? What hand has CEITEC had in this?

Brno has great potential – it is a university city with 80,000 students and a great scientific history. Gregor Mendel made his ground-breaking discoveries in the genetics of the pea plant in the Augustinian Abbey in Brno. His discoveries led to the formulation of what is known as Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance, which serve as the foundation for modern genetics.

Although it is still very early, CEITEC has an immense influence in this region – the creation of new research laboratories will generate new jobs for nearly 500 scientists and over 1,300 students. The aim of CEITEC is to help create an environment where both basic and applied research can thrive. Also, CEITEC is actively involved in helping to shape the regional innovation strategy. These efforts demonstrate that the local governments and institutes such as CEITEC can work together to achieve common goals such as excellence in education and research, in addition to supporting entrepreneurship and innovative businesses.

Can you offer details of some of CEITEC’s core facilities? What makes the Institute so unique?

CEITEC is the first scientific centre in the Czech Republic to integrate R&D in the fields of life sciences, advanced materials and technologies under one organisation. The high-end technologies at its disposal will facilitate the study of subjects starting from the atomic level, moving to more complex molecules and seamlessly to the complexities of whole cells and organ systems.

The idea is to have access to a full-range suite of instruments that can be tailored to broad analytic capabilities. 10 core facilities will allow specialised research and high-quality equipment for advanced education and close, multidisciplinary cooperation. We have recently opened the first of CEITEC’s core facilities, the Josef Dadok National NMR Centre, which has the most efficient NMR spectrometer in Central Europe with working frequencies of 950 MHz. The rest of the core facilities will be fully operational in 2014.

By what means is the Institute enlisting Europe’s top research talents? How central is this to your operations?

CEITEC has recently hired several promising Group Leaders from Europe and the US to complement the already existing talent within the Institute. As for most recognised research centres, there must be a continuous renewal of new ideas. One way to accomplish this is by creating new research groups.

Our scientists attend and present at international symposia, but CEITEC also hosts international conferences and workshops. To enhance the development of our students, our newly formed PhD programmes will require that students spend significant time working in collaborating laboratories outside of the Czech Republic. Moreover, our core facilities are designed to allow CEITEC researchers, as well as investigators from other institutes, to have access to our unique instruments. The advancement of science requires the exchange of ideas and technologies, and CEITEC intends to foster an environment to promote these practices.

Further to this, with whom does CEITEC cooperate, and how is this played out in practice?

CEITEC cooperates with other academic institutes, industries and local governmental agencies. Our researchers have been collaborating with various organisations worldwide to further their discoveries. Additionally, CEITEC has signed Memoranda of Understanding to form partnerships with several research institutes including Imperial College London, the Austrian Institute of Technology and ETH Zürich. Our CEITEC researchers have been engaged in cooperative agreements with private companies in the fields of sensors, medical diagnostics, new microscopy designs and even in examining the structural integrity of art work.

What are the advantages of such collaborative exercises?

Having an extensive collaborative base is critical for us to understand the changing trends in science as they are being shaped. Without these networks, we would not be as competitive in today’s rapidly changing world of discoveries. The formalisation of our scientific networks is also manifested in CEITEC’s inclusion in the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap projects.

As scientific questions are becoming more complex, a multidisciplinary approach is often required in order to address new scientific understandings and make ground-breaking discoveries. Over the years, teams of scientists have become larger, individually more specialised, multinational, and instrumentation is often no longer found all in one place. Therefore, pushed by the demand to perform higher-end research, science requires more extensive collaborations.

Are steps being taken to improve knowledge transfer and transparency between the Institute and the commercial sector?

CEITEC is currently in the process of putting a Technology Transfer Office in place that would serve the interests of the academic sector. Traditionally, there has been reluctance on the part of some academics to cooperate with the private sector. Although there is a transition period taking place in the country, the cultural gap between industry and academia has been much talked about. Within the initial formation agreement of CEITEC, it was articulated that our scientists would engage with the application sphere in the form of contractual research and intellectual property filing. To further this process, we are putting in clear guidelines as to how these engagements would take place and providing education on the potential advantages of working with industry.

CEITEC is based on the synergy of seven research programmes. Can you explain what these are?

CEITEC operates seven research programmes: advanced nano- and microtechnology; advanced materials; structural biology; genomics and proteomics of plant systems; molecular medicine; brain and mind research; and molecular veterinary medicine. The availability of a great deal of expertise that can reach across disciplines is one of the great advantages that scientists at CEITEC have. Currently, there are several cross-disciplinary projects underway, that include the exploration of microfluidics technologies, new materials for bone grafts, as well as novel medical diagnostics methodologies.

Are you hosting any events in the near future?

We would like to invite readers to the 7th International Conference on Materials Structure & Micromechanics of Fracture (MSMF7), to be held in Brno on 1-3 July 2013. MSMF7 will focus on fundamental relationships between structural and mechanical characteristics of materials. We are also kicking off the first of three CEITEC PhD programmes. This first one will focus on advanced materials and nanosciences. We are currently accepting applications to start in September 2013. Unlike many other programmes where the PhD student must specify their specialisation upon entry, CEITEC allows exposure to many sub-fields of material science before the student must choose a specific thesis topic.

What challenges or limitations is Central Europe experiencing in terms of R&D? How is CEITEC working to unlock untapped potential within the region?

Central and Eastern Europe face many challenges that have been left over from the former Soviet-supported regimes. Although more than two decades have passed, change in the form of bureaucracy, infrastructure and general practices has not been as rapid as within the private sector.

CEITEC is addressing these challenges by bringing in best practices that exist in other parts of the world. The recruitment of international researchers and management, as well as the promotion of student exchange programmes will help to catalyse this change. Our central goal is to support good science, and foster an environment for creativity.

www.ceitec.eu

Why was the European Factories of the Future Research Association (EFFRA) established?

For some time, both industry and the EC had recognised the need to address the decline in industrial participation in European research programmes.

With the establishment of the ‘Factories of the Future’ public-private partnership (PPP), the Manufuture European Technology Platform and leading industrial associations felt that it would be essential for there to be an association to represent the partners involved in this new collaboration. This was also to make it easier for the EC to engage with the manufacturing research community and ensure that research objectives would be relevant to industry.

Could you summarise EFFRA’s main aims and objectives?

Manufacturing is of critical importance to Europe’s economy and its future. It will enable the production of technological solutions to the Grand Societal Challenges. Therefore, our main aim is to maximise the benefits of both public and private resources by ensuring they are allocated to the most promising manufacturing technologies through the PPP. This will facilitate the development of a more competitive manufacturing industry in Europe. We have four main goals:

• Identify and develop industry-relevant research objectives

• Further develop the manufacturing research community, bringing together small, medium and large industrial enterprises with research & technology organisations (RTO s) and universities

• Promote the ‘Factories of the Future’ projects, and disseminate their activities and results

• Actively encourage participation by industry in the partnership

Further to this, how are you helping to shape, promote and support the implementation of the ‘Factories of the Future’ PPP?

Primarily, our development of a multi-annual strategic roadmap, ‘Factories of the Future 2020’, is shaping the PPP through industry-relevant research topics which have been validated through open and transparent consultations. Our active communications tools and participation in conferences and workshops, along with a good working relationship with many associations, are promoting the partnership at an increasing rate. Also, by defining research objectives, actively encouraging participation and engaging in proactive dissemination activities, we are strongly supporting the implementation of the partnership.

What do you hope to facilitate through this initiative?

Ultimately, I hope that we will encourage and facilitate the development of advanced manufacturing processes, technologies and systems which, in turn, will enable the production of products and enabling technologies.

I believe that we have a good tradition of advanced manufacturing in Europe which, for a while, was almost forgotten by governments. Thankfully this attitude has changed. The future of Europe’s economy is dependent on a strongly competitive and sustainable manufacturing industry producing high-quality, state-of-the-art goods and providing employment in Europe. Continued close cooperation between the public and private sector is very important.

As an industry-driven association promoting the development of new and innovative production technologies, what are some of the challenges you face?

I think that we have often faced the challenge of making sure that the representatives of public bodies understand how important manufacturing research is. However, our close working relationship with the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG Research) and the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect) of the EC are helping in no small way to overcome this. It is also important to continue to ensure that the diverse nature of the PPP is fully understood, that it is not dominated by one industry and that advanced manufacturing will itself facilitate production of other key enabling technologies.

Can you explain how EFFRA is promoting pre-competitive research on production technologies within the European Research Area (ERA)?

The ERA exists to strengthen the technological and scientific base of the EU, encouraging competitiveness. Since the beginning, the objectives and work of EFFRA and the PPP have been fully in line with this. By actively promoting the PPP and its projects, EFFRA is promoting activities which are transnational and pre-competitive. Every research project consortium is transnational in its composition; the 700 organisations involved are based in the ERA.

Could you highlight what private and public resources this partnership is employing? Where is funding coming from and how sustainable is it?

The private sector continues to commit its own finances, facilities, equipment, knowledge and skills, while the public sector contributes financially via the annual research calls, a forum for discussion with industry and information events to encourage participation. Public funding for the PPP has been from the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and from 2014 it will come from Horizon 2020. Horizon 2020 will run from 2014-20, with funding secured for its entire duration through the budget of the EU.

The fourth call for proposals under the ‘Factories of the Future’ PPP was announced in July 2012. What types of proposals for funding did you see? How much support is available for applicants?

The fourth call closed on 4 December 2012. The annual call topics have continued to receive an increase in the number of proposals submitted, all of high quality. This year, I expect there to be another increase. Over the lifetime of this PPP and under previous programmes, the Commission has improved its support in terms of a dedicated project participants’ portal and two-day information event. National contact points also exist in every ERA country to provide advice and support.

EFFRA has given much consideration to this and has used its dissemination services to raise awareness of the support services that exist for project proposers. Our projects database will soon be available to the public, ensuring that potential project participants can see what projects already exist, in which area and who is involved.

With the opening of the consultation process for the ‘Factories of the Future 2020’ roadmap, what response and feedback did you receive from stakeholders? What were some of the research priorities that were brought up?

We were all pleasantly surprised by the amount of feedback received. EFFRA had already increased its dissemination activities, including the use of social media. As a result, there is a greater awareness of our consultation outside of the existing manufacturing research community.

The comments were very informative and overall vindicated our existing approach and content. ‘Factories of the Future 2020’ outlines the research priorities of European industry, taking into account the Grand Societal Challenges and recent update of the Commission’s industrial policy. As a result, we have identified six research domains: advanced manufacturing processes; adaptive and smart manufacturing systems; digital, virtual and resource-efficient factories, collaborative and mobile enterprises; human-centred manufacturing; and customer-focused manufacturing.

Is EFFRA working towards achieving sustainable growth through the development of new and green technologies by means of people- and eco-friendly factories?

In developing ‘Factories of the Future 2020’, EFFRA has paid considerable attention to these issues. It is essential that manufacturing in Europe should be sustainable in every way. Two of the challenges identified in ‘Factories of the Future 2020’ are societal and environmental. In terms of society, we have developed an overall priority called human-centred manufacturing – safe and attractive workplaces which also take into account the changing demographics of workers. In addition, we will address the need to encourage lifelong learning and higher skills.

In terms of the environment, research priorities stress the importance of making the most of scarce resources, re-manufacturing, reducing the consumption of energy while making the most use of energy consumed, reducing emissions and developing new, environmentally friendly materials. The identification and development of these areas is in line with the Europe 2020 targets.

Since research and innovation in ICT for manufacturing is vital for achieving all of EFFRA’s research priorities, how are you supporting advancements in this sector?

ICT is already a key part of ‘Factories of the Future’ projects since there are call topics which are supported by funding from DG Connect of the EC. ICT is vital to sustainable and competitive manufacturing. ‘Factories of the Future 2020’ incorporates ICT into all of the research domains since future manufacturing will involve data management, real-time systems feedback, cloud-based services and smart applications.

What place do smart, digital and virtual factories have in your agenda? How will they help to curb expenditure and improve efficiency in years to come?

Smart, virtual and digital factories are important components of our research agenda. They are research priorities in our ‘Factories of the Future 2020 roadmap’. Within the PPP, there continues to be very active involvement from the ICT sector. A number of ‘Factories of the Future’ projects on this subject are already underway.

Smart, virtual and digital factories will be able to process data at a greater rate, allowing for factory and manufacturing system designs to be tested virtually, saving considerable time, resources and finances. In terms of employment, they will create demand for highly skilled workers and enable ongoing training within manufacturing enterprises.

What do you think the future may bring for EFFRA and manufacturing in Europe?

I would like to stress that the manufacturing industry in Europe is deeply committed to the success and future of the ‘Factories of the Future’ PPP. We have a record of success with over 98 projects already running and the involvement of over 700 organisations across Europe.

We will build on this success under Horizon 2020 and strongly believe that a sensible budget is key to this. Ultimately, we wish to see a strong, sustainable and competitive industry in Europe which will provide highly skilled jobs and play a key role in addressing our Grand Challenges.

www.effra.eu

Upon what principles was the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) formed?

SATW brings together individuals, institutions and associations in Switzerland that help shape and promote technical sciences and their application. It has more than 240 individual members and some 60 member organisations. SATW is politically independent and not for profit, and is legally an association. Founded in 1981, it is recognised by the Swiss Confederation for the promotion of research.

Could you define the main activities of SATW and how it benefits the people of Switzerland?

SATW acts as a think tank on engineering and technical matters. Its activities focus on areas that are of benefit and importance to society and Switzerland as a centre of industry.

SATW members and experts organise themselves dynamically into topical platforms, covering what are currently the most challenging questions of our time. Working groups and participants of workshops analyse the scientific and technological landscape, and identify future developments of high relevance to Swiss society and industry. The groundwork is conducted via a series of projects and the main activities focus on the areas of technology foresight, dialogue with society at large and especially with young people, and the ethical questions of corporate social responsibility.

Which projects are you working on at the moment? What do they set out to achieve?

The most important projects are currently the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) topics in education; energy supply and renewable energy; sustainable exploitation of natural resources; the use of genetic technology (green and white biotechnology); food security and technology; and medical tools. Of particular concern is the lack of educators with a STEM background, so efforts will be focused on rectifying this dilemma in the immediate future.

Our tangible products are position papers and studies with evaluations and recommendations that aim to assist society at large when making decisions on these topics. SATW publishes its findings in the form of online and printed publications, and promotes them at special events to enrich the discourse and inform policy on engineering science.

SATW manages several platforms based on a range of different themes, from medical technology to energy and nanotechnology. How do such platforms operate? What role do they play within SATW?

The platforms are self-assembled groups of members and experts that carry out technology forecast investigations in their fields. They draw on available knowledge and expertise and are the stewards of topical know-how, guiding the development of SATW in their respective domains and informing the Scientific Advisory Board on imminent developments.

The following topical platforms currently exist: urban and regional planning, architecture and construction; transport, traffic, mobility and logistics; security of energy supply; biomedical engineering and computer science; biotechnology and bioinformatics; food technology; resources/ sustainability; computing in science and technology; ICT security; eSwitzerland; edu-tech; education and continuing education; micro- and nanotechnology; ethics; and risks.

You mention that ethics forms a significant part of SATW’s remit. In what ways are you raising awareness of the importance of ethical practice?

At present, we have a special focus on society and youth within Switzerland, but ethics is by no means a new aim for SATW. We have been active in this field for many years. The advent of the International Organization for Standardization social responsibility guidelines, released in 2010, stimulated our renewed focus on networking with other efforts within Switzerland and throughout the international community; with the help of the Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences, Inc. (CAETS), which encourages information exchange, progress reporting and best practice.

How are you promoting sustainable use of natural resources?

This year, SATW has opened a dialogue with parliament and its administration on measuring the use and impacts of natural resources. Joint activities with industry are now well underway. We continue to publish reports on the matter and our most recent publication – ‘How to promote the production of electricity from renewable sources?’ – goes a long way to satisfying our obligation to report the most up-to-date information on issues relevant to society.

In theory, Switzerland can provide all of its national power demand through renewable energy, but research and development is still required to bring down costs. The expansion of these technologies will require backing from society as they are ultimately the voters, consumers and investors who determine future energy supply and demand. We deliver the information for the public to make informed decisions; our responsibility lies in transparent reporting of both the possibilities and challenges that the renewable sector faces.

Currently, SATW is heavily focused on encouraging young people to take up engineering as a profession. Why is this so critical? What would you define as the main obstacles faced by young people entering the field?

The competitiveness of our society depends crucially on the availability of a competent, well-educated workforce. The rapid growth of our economy as well as the concomitant change of our industrial and services industries require training and motivation of the young people entering the workforce to be competent in STEM topics at a high level. Swiss industry is strongly dependent on technical innovation, and engineers are especially well-prepared for this challenge.

Can you offer an overview of some of the initiatives that you have developed in order to promote engineering to young people?

The most successful activities are our TecDays, in which Gymnasia (secondary schools) are taken over by SATW. A large number of science- and technology-orientated course modules are offered instead of the regular curriculum. TecNights are companion products that engage the families of students and other interested parties in such activities. We also offer products for the specific stimulation of interactions between academia and industry, and for the promotion of innovation through support and expert advice on innovative technologies and products, with a special focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises.

To what extent do you collaborate with international organisations? How do such partnerships contribute to your mission?

SATW is a member of the European Council of Applied Sciences Technologies and the worldwide CAETS networks of technical academies. We participate in projects organised by these associations, and contribute to and benefit from work done in the partner institutions.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing engineering sciences? How might this be effectively overcome?

Political and public pressure tends to demand changes at a pace that is far beyond what is practically possible. Reversing of the trend away from STEM fields in education requires years of work since it is not only the students that have to be interested but also the teachers and administrating bodies that have to change.

How do you see the work of SATW progressing over the coming years? What are your goals for the future?

SATW is in a process of continual modernisation, with a drive to higher efficiency in its core activities and more focused work towards its aims. Fortunately, public opinion is supporting our activities and will help us to reach our goals.

www.satw.ch

To contextualise the interview, could you outline the vision and mission of Ecsite?

Our first aim is to represent and serve our members as they work to establish widespread public engagement with science. Ecsite has evolved to lead a wide range of members since its founding in 1989. Over the past few years, our international reputation and impact has increased and our membership has expanded geographically as well as in the range of institutions. In 2000, the Ecsite Annual Conference attracted 300 people, but now attracts over 1,000 people from 55 countries, making it the world’s second largest annual science communication event. So our growth has been quite dramatic.

Ecsite mediates between the science communication sector, politicians, industry, academia, the media and players at the European level. As such, we bring science communication into spheres of influence, such as the European Parliament, and help local governments recognise the value of our members.

The PLACES project hopes to synergise science, politics and citizens in contemporary societies. Could you discuss some of the activities that are currently underway to achieve this?

PLACES began with 67 founding City Partnerships who have the same goal – to develop long-term science communication policies that will result in clearly defined Local Action Plans. As the project progresses, new City Partnerships are signing on to PLACES voluntarily to enjoy fantastic networking opportunities, wide visibility, dissemination instruments, databases, resources and the chance to be part of a forward-thinking community.

European cities and regions are at the heart of PLACES. Regions have brought universities, public and private organisations, and science communication institutions together to enlighten PLACES through Science Cities Workshops. These workshops, which have covered diverse geographical and intellectual territory over the past year, aimed to identify needs and strategies for effective science communication policies. They found that, by promoting scientific and technological awareness, science communication policy could be a front-line facilitator of Europe’s knowledge-based economies.

We have already established an unprecedented opportunity to examine the science communication landscape of Europe because PLACES has drawn diverse institutions and at least one science communication expert from each of the 26 countries engaged in the project. Here are some concrete examples of what selected City Partnerships are working on:

• Amsterdam, the Netherlands, led by Science Centre NEMO – the topic of sustainability has been selected as one of the main strategic themes for the coming years. For a science centre like NEMO, it is absolutely necessary to address sustainability that links with several scientific areas and has a strong local relevance in the city of Amsterdam but also global relevance. The plan mostly focuses on the contribution that science and technology can make to solving problems such as climate change and the exhaustion of fossil fuels and raw materials while, next to that, we aim to stimulate dialogue and debate around these topics, bridging the gap between science and society

• Glasgow, UK, led by Glasgow Science Centre – Glasgow excels in a wide range of fields, including renewable energy, laser physics and cancer detection and treatment. This diversity, plus the size of the city, can make it difficult for the science community to work as one. Glasgow City of Science’s role is to pull together everyone with an interest in science engagement, to focus on how to improve lives through science, engineering, mathematics, technology, medicine and social science. By taking a more joined-up approach, the scientific expertise emanating from Glasgow and the West of Scotland can have a greater impact on the health and wealth of residents. Sharing knowledge and resources can bring about new ideas, progress research, attract investment in innovations and infrastructure, and deliver real results more rapidly

• Malta, led by the Malta Council for Science and Technology – Malta is currently facing a challenge whereby the majority of students are not pursuing further studies in science subjects. There is also a general lack of appreciation and understanding of the manifestations of science in everyday life which is indirectly causing a pool of citizens to be ill-informed and inactive. The target is to encourage and arouse interest in science within students prior to their selecting which subjects to study at a higher level. By taking them into industries, universities and higher technical colleges, and enabling them to experience first-hand where and how science can be used in everyday life and at the workplace, the project allows them to experience science hands-on and question what alternatives science can bring to their future and career

• Florence, Italy, led by Museo Galileo – PLACES is a new opportunity for Florence to enhance the rich network of organisations dealing with the dissemination of scientific culture at a local level. The city of Florence, for historical reasons, has many and heterogeneous institutions that are responsible for disseminating science and the history of science. In a 2002 survey, 16 institutions with this mission had been identified and the first attempts at coordinating activities were made. The Local Action Plan in Florence is the ideal implementation of these previous experiences; there are several new institutions involved since the local cultural scene has evolved. More importantly, the Local Action Plan envisions the active involvement of the municipal administration

This year’s Ecsite Annual Conference ‘Dreams, the spirit of innovation’ will be taking place on 6-8 June 2013 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Which topics have been proposed for discussion during this event?

For more than two decades, the Ecsite Annual Conference has gathered Europe’s most renowned science communication professionals and established itself as the most important yearly platform in the field.

The Ecsite Annual Conference is an interactive event on science communication, drawing professionals from science centres, natural history museums, universities, aquariums, zoos, research institutes and private companies. The event offers three full days consisting of 75 sessions and workshops with around 300 speakers, a rich social programme to remember for years to come and the chance to sample cutting-edge products in the Business Bistro trade fair. Famous for its fun, casual and friendly atmosphere, the Conference is the ultimate networking hub where exchange, debate and laughter shared with colleagues from around the world are the cornerstones of this unforgettable event. In addition, Pre-Conference Workshops guided by Ecsite’s Thematic Groups offer thorough insight into a variety of science communication dimensions.

This year’s theme deals with dreams as the root of innovation. Dreaming ideas into reality is the spirit of innovation. Dreams, as sources of uncommon images and ideas, contribute to developing inventions. Once inventions become socially accepted and used, they become innovation. Innovation was once only associated with the development of new products and technologies, but it now encompasses novel ways of offering services, fresh business models and management practices, as well as new processes, pricing plans and routes to market.

Ecsite Annual Conferences pride themselves on being platforms for new ideas and creative/intellectual exchange. There is no shortage of challenging subject matter set for this year’s conference. For example, we are offering a workshop session called ‘Making, fabbing, tinkering: New approaches to learning by doing’, which will run for the duration in a Maker’s Space. The session will display some of the possibilities – and challenges – of practical/ creative/hands-on activities in science centres and museums.

We also have many ‘science in society’-themed sessions on offer, including one that looks at citizen participation in policy making, and another that investigates approaches to science communication and cultural diversity. The session entitled ‘Aftershock: The L’Aquila ruling and its impact on science communication’ will no doubt be interesting, since it examines a recent and contentious event in the science communication field – the condemnation of six scientists for multiple manslaughter as a consequence of their failure to warn citizens about the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake in Italy.

Social media has been playing a more prominent role at Ecsite conferences recently, and this year will be no exception. We hope to entice more people to report their conference experiences on Twitter (#Ecsite2013), Facebook, LinkedIn and Flickr. Above all, the event will be a thought-provoking, rich celebration of scientific culture where delegates are invited to reflect, question their assumptions, challenge one another and generally have a wonderful time.

People can register for the conference at www.ecsite.eu/annual_conference. You don’t need to be an Ecsite member to attend – science communicators from far and wide are welcome.

www.ecsite.eu

Could you begin by summarising your role at Skype?

My role is to lead Skype’s Social Good programmes globally, where we focus on how Skype technology can be leveraged to have a positive impact in the world. Our work in this space to date has been focused in the areas of education, peace and humanitarian support. In addition to the Social Good programmes Skype is driving, there are countless groups and individuals around the world who are using Skype on a daily basis to make life better for others. My favourite part of the job is getting to hear their inspiring stories and sharing them with the world.

What is ‘Skype in the classroom’ and how does it work?

Skype in the classroom was created in response to, and in consultation with, the growing number of teachers using Skype to help their students learn. It’s designed to help like-minded teachers find each other so their students can collaborate on projects. We are now able to give educators a way to provide lessons that has never been seen before. The service is allowing classrooms globally to achieve educational goals in an interesting and interactive way.

Students are able to connect with other students from different cultures as well as talk with experts in a variety of fields. Teachers can now take their students on the ultimate school trip without even having to leave the classroom.

Are there significant benefits that this initiative brings to students and others?

Skype in the classroom has extensive benefits for those involved, with resources stretching from language studies and geography lessons to virtual field trips and expert speakers joining classes from afar. Skype offers an immediate way to help students discover new cultures, languages and ideas, all without leaving the classroom. Providing students with these opportunities creates a much more dynamic classroom environment which enriches their learning experience.

My school experiences involved day-to-day blackboard-style lessons that rarely encouraged interaction or engagement outside our classroom walls. The occasional school trip was always a highlight. These days, by using Skype in the classroom, a virtual school trip can be an everyday learning experience.

In terms of locating and communicating with experts in a given subject, how is contact made? What form does the advice they offer take?

A large number of teachers endeavour to make these connections themselves, often by sending an email inviting the expert to speak with their class on a specific topic. Teachers also have access to a growing list of guest speakers through our Partners programme – we currently have over 49,000 teachers and 20 partners registered for the programme.

Often the advice offered by the experts is tailored to the topic students are currently studying, and the students regularly have the opportunity to ask questions. Teachers also have the opportunity to get in contact with the expert prior to the lesson and discuss with them what the students are currently learning and what topics could be covered during their talk with the children. This is the basis of the relationship they build with the expert or other teacher, and from here they can continue to develop lessons that are of benefit to their students.

There seems to be an endless supply of lessons to be learnt with Skype in the classroom. Who provides these lessons and how do you ensure they are up to standard?

We are taking a community-led approach with Skype in the classroom. That community is made up of highly qualified education professionals who ensure that the content is appropriate for the lesson they are teaching. They also leave feedback on materials which is a good way to ensure the content is at the standard it should be.

We also collaborate with some amazing organisations who offer inspirational education experiences direct to the classroom.

Could you describe the content organised by NASA as part of Skype in the classroom? Is NASA hoping to develop certain skills in the students who use this lesson?

Yes, NASA currently has two modules on Skype in the classroom and both are aligned to our view that students should have the opportunity to expand their minds beyond the classroom walls. I can’t say that I am an expert on aeronautics or pulsar algebra, but I can guarantee that students joining the modules will have a lot of fun as they learn about flight and neutron stars, pulsars and the Crab Nebula.

One of our lessons is Humans in Space, which is run by the NASA Digital Learning Network. It aims to show students what it is like to live and work in space, and presents a number of different challenges which students are asked to suggest solutions for. When I was growing up, we learnt about space and NASA, but never to the same degree that students are able to these days. Innovative solutions like Skype in the classroom have the ability to improve education for young people around the globe.

Are all classroom subjects covered, and is Skype hoping to branch into other sectors with this concept?

Skype in the classroom covers a vast range of topics. Our Skype in the classroom teachers are always finding ways in which it can be incorporated into different subjects. Teachers and experts can login and suggest topics, and we always welcome new and exciting ways to learn. Our team is always open to hearing about new topics for inclusion and work hard in making these come to life in order to benefit teachers and students, and further grow our community.

Could a similar concept be used not only for school-age children but undergraduates and beyond?

At the moment we are focusing our efforts on primary and secondary level teachers and students. However, we do hear though on a daily basis about the inspiring ways that Skype is being used in education at all levels, including university and beyond which motivates us to continually improve our classroom offering.

What role do you think technology will play in the education of the future? Will it replace traditional methods completely or will it be more a case of enhancing teaching?

As technology evolves and develops, so does the need for us to adapt with it. It is my belief that technology will continue to grow in importance within education but will also continue to enhance the very important work that teachers deliver.

In the past decade alone, we have seen an enormous growth in technological resources. Younger generations are now growing up in an advanced world and expect technology to be a part of learning. We only expect this trend to continue in the coming years.

Is there scope for this resource to standardise education worldwide?

That isn’t the aim of Skype in the classroom. We want to enable shared learning experiences as we hear from educators around the world about what a positive impact they are having for their students.

To what extent can teachers connect with other teachers? In what way can they pass on their experiences?

The Skype in the classroom homepage offers a directory for teachers which allow them to easily connect with each other. There’s also a directory of resources to help teachers share inspiring videos, links and tips around using Skype in education. The teachers are able to build relationships with each other as well as share lesson stories, advice and inspiration.

What are your ambitions for this initiative?

The ambition for Skype in the classroom is that it continues to take a teacher-led approach and become ever more valuable to educators, thereby having an increasing impact on the lives of young people around the world. My personal ambition is to make sure that I spend time on the site each day so that I continue to learn and be inspired by the creativity and passion for education that our teacher community around the globe brings.

https://education.skype.com/

Could you begin by describing how the idea for the International Linear Collider (ILC) came about?

About a decade ago, the International Committee for Future Accelerators (ICFA) formed a sub-committee, the International Linear Collider Steering Committee (ILCSC), to promote a linear project. ILCSC first defined the design parameters of the ILC – setting the first energy at 500 GeV; the ILC could be extended to 1 TeV as a future option. In 2004, ILCSC reviewed different options and chose cold technology for further development under global cooperation and, in 2005, the committee started the Global Design Effort (GDE), directed by Professor Barry Barish, in order to carry out the R&D and design for the ILC.

What is the overall objective of this ambitious project? How will it shed light on new forms of matter and dimensions of space?

Humankind has been persistent in its quest for answers to the most fundamental building blocks of matter. Along the way, our ancestors discovered the electron, the nuclei and many other elementary particles, as well as the particles responsible for force. Many were first dubious of their worth, but these discoveries have since helped to explain mysteries in Nature and helped to serve a tremendous number of other applications.

Our effort is at the cutting-edge of this quest and so is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We both explore questions differently and are both capable of producing new particles to study their properties in complementary ways. So many people, not just scientists, are keen to know what happened after the creation of the Universe and, ultimately, this knowledge is essential to understand why we all exist.

You were appointed Research Director in 2007 to provide guidance for the R&D activities and help coordinate the procedures for developing engineering designs for two complementary detectors. Why is there a need for a further two detectors?

It is normal to have more than one detector at a large collider. At the LHC, there are ATLAS and CMS, and at the Tevatron collider in the US there were CDF and D0 detectors. Germany’s Hadron Electron Ring Accelerator (HERA) had H1 and ZEUS and at the Large Electron-Positron Collider (LEP) there were four detectors.

A finding is recognised as a new discovery when confirmed by an independent measurement. The best way is to have two groups who can cross-check each other. The recent discovery of the Higgs-like new boson was convincing because both detectors saw the same signal. Large colliders, built with a big budget, also require more than one detector for safety, and healthy competition between the two groups stimulates motivation to produce a greater output.

Unlike the LHC, your machine is a linear system that accelerates particles in a 30 km straight line. What is the advantage of this approach, and how will it complement the LHC?

It is more efficient to have a bigger ring or a linear accelerator in order to reach high electron energy. The LHC, for example, is housed in the tunnel originally built for LEP, an electron-positron circular collider. In order to reach its highest energy, the acceleration components of LEP had to be reinforced in order to compensate the synchrotron energy loss which rapidly increased with energy. Therefore, a linear collider would provide a solution to the need for higher energy.

The shape of the accelerator depends on the mass of the particle to be accelerated and the desired energy. When the energy of a particle is very high compared to its mass, it starts emitting light and loses energy when it is bent. Since an electron is 2,000 times lighter than a proton, it starts losing energy at a lower energy. This mechanism is applied widely for synchrotron light sources.

A proton can be accelerated to a higher energy than an electron with present superconducting magnet technology. However, protons are not elementary particles and are, in fact, made of partons, ie. quarks and gluons. When they collide, an elementary process is caused by these partons and their energy is distributed from nearly zero to the highest energy of the parent proton. Very seldom will a desired high energy reaction occur mixed in lower energy reactions, making the analysis of the event fairly difficult. On the other hand, an electron (positron) is an elementary particle. It uses its full energy to produce hard reactions while producing substantially less background reactions and the observed event enables cleaner and simpler analysis to study reactions fully.

Proton accelerators and electron accelerators have always existed to serve different functions and complementary roles. The proton accelerator can reach higher energy to find new phenomena, whilst the electron accelerator can make detailed measurements of the observation with high precision. Both approaches are necessary. The Z boson, for instance, found at the PbarP collider at CERN, was accurately measured at LEP to provide the mass estimation of the Standard Model Higgs at around 120 GeV. Now its 125 GeV candidate has been found at the LHC.

If LEP’s energy had been 10-20 per cent higher, it could have seen the Higgs-like particle very clearly. But the energy was insufficient. Accessible energy plays an important role in general and this is why, even though more complicated, the high energy obtained with the proton is powerful. However, to scrutinise the new particle precisely, we need an electron machine.

How can the ILC overcome funding constraints?

About 2,000 people from more than 300 universities and laboratories in over two dozen countries are collaborating to carry out R&D for the ILC. Compared to the European focus on the LHC, ILC plans to be globally international. We may consider starting ILC at a lower energy to generate a ‘Higgs factory’, which would reduce the initial investment, but this depends on future discussions.

Beyond the realms of particle research, the ILC has many perceived benefits to science and society. Would you care to highlight the most significant contributions you expect to make?

Regarding the detector R&D, there are already many cases of spinoffs. In brief, radiation detectors and light sensors developed for ILC detectors are already used in other fields, as well as high-sensitivity or high-resolution radiation detectors which have uses in medical, space and material science. Photon sensors are developing fast and can be easily utilised – in cancer therapy amongst other applications – due to their superior sensor size, radiation hardiness, easy operation, stability, low power consumption and cost.

How close are you to the construction stage? What bridges do you need to cross before the development can continue?

The GDE group and the research directorate are summarising the final reports, namely the Technical Design Report (TDR) of the accelerator and the Detailed Baseline Design (DBD) report of the detectors, respectively. When these are ready, we will have fulfilled the required mandate and the project will be ready to be proposed. There will be matters left to refine for both the accelerator and the detector but basic requirements have been shown to be satisfied in TDR and DBD.

We think we can soon begin talking with funding agencies on how to realise the project. It will take some years until an agreement is reached among those who are willing to join. In the meantime, industrialisation of the components should be completed. Dr Lyn Evans, who was the leader of the LHC’s construction, now leads the linear collider activities. He is pushing the project on and we very much look forward to the next stage.

Do you work with other disciplines outside of science?

I would like to stress the development of high energy physics (HEP) with regards to the advanced technology industry. Although its applications are often discussed, HEP construction and its front-end facilities rely greatly on industry itself. HEP is complex and demanding but industry experts are motivated by the challenge. Industry deserves a mention, for without them, none of this would be possible.

Physics as a discipline can be daunting. How can we change the way we approach the sciences to improve the passion for and teaching of physics?

I am glad you asked this question. Some people say that the last century was the time for physics whilst now it is the era of biology. I think this is wrong. After all, Nature is a single complex – all the ingredients are interconnected. Artificial distinctions are often made between different disciplines, but at a certain level these disciplines are all linked. Luckily physics, although characterised by basic principles like conservation laws or symmetry principles, has no restriction with regard to what it is possible to study. You can study anything you think is interesting with physics. Physics also uses some mathematics, a universal language that allows you to cross cultural backgrounds and partner with people from all walks of life.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on which way you look at it) I learned this appreciation at university. During my high school days, physics was not so interesting. But when I studied it in university, physics really opened my eyes. The world looked different with modern physics knowledge. If the ideas of modern physics can be explained in schools in an easy and transferrable way, it will be of endless benefit to students and will help to instil passion amongst them. I believe physics is useful in making our lives more fruitful, not necessarily with mere application but in the fundamental way we understand Nature.

www.linearcollider.org