The pressure on research and development has led to the establishment of an EU support program, as institutions often could not join international research networks due to outdated infrastructure. Successful projects in this field can strengthen Hungary’s position in the European research area. The Center for Energy Research (Hungarian Academy of Sciences) has entered the world elite of materials science by acquiring an exceptionally powerful electron microscope.
The aim of the call for proposals titled “Strengthening Research Infrastructure – internationalisation, networking” was to increase the international competitiveness of domestic research centers by modernising their infrastructure and equipment. Due to the expansion of facilities with modern infrastructure, the expected outcomes included an increase in research collaborations, which also contributed to the improvement of research and innovation performance. The ideal conditions help Hungarian institutions to be competitive in the global scientific environment.
As part of its project, The Center for Energy Reasearch, with European Union support, has acquired a transmission electron microscope that is not merely an imaging device but also capable of determining chemical composition and creating elemental distribution maps through energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) by exploiting the electron beam-solid interaction. With this device, the Research Center is capable of conducting unique examinations on a global scale, thus connecting to international research in various fields within the categories of “special materials, advanced materials, modern materials technologies” and “electronics and semiconductor technology.”
The project – beyond the specific research results – can also identify numerous worthwhile effects.
A world-class work environment generally stimulates scientific development, enhances international competitiveness, and thus contributes to retaining our talents and even attracting foreign scientists to our country.
Innovations in material science spur the development of new, sustainable technologies, allowing Hungarian small and medium-sized businesses to sell more sophisticated goods like coatings and nanocomposites.
In addition to encouraging more young people to pursue professions in research, these high-tech tools help current experts continue their education. Students’ technical and natural science education can be directly improved by including the usage of an electron microscope into university coursework.
The project directly supports Hungary’s innovation strategy, and the research results can contribute to significant energy industry utilization at the national economic level.
Last but not least, the results achieved in materials science support the goals of environmental protection and sustainability by producing more durable or efficient materials, and through material testing, the development of new, more sustainable technologies is also possible.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project VEKOP-2.3.3-15-2016-00002 under the Competitive Central Hungary Operational Programme.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder:Details
