ATTRACT’s objective is to create a sustainable innovation ecosystem for the breakthrough technologies in detection and imaging that are needed for fundamental research, as well as to create societal impact through those technologies. 

How? As a first step, by providing 100 kEUR seed funding to 170 selected projects that demonstrate the potential of breakthrough technologies in detection and imaging. This initial 17 MEUR fund is solely targeting High-Risk High-Gain concepts that address this cross-cutting field of research and applications. 

The ATTRACT Consortium is composed of CERN, ESO, ESRF, EMBL, European XFEL, ILL, Aalto University, ESADE Business School and EIRMA. The project is financed by the EC under the H2020 programme.

CERN can benefit greatly from ATTRACT as it offers an opportunity for the Laboratory’s diverse scientific and technical communities to find the necessary resources to develop disruptive new ideas in detection and imaging. 

To select these 170 promising ideas, a three-month Open Call was launched on 1 August for organisations to submit proposals. All relevant information about the Call can be found here. 

CERN colleagues need to submit an EDH form before the deadline of 17 September as part of the standard CERN procedure that must be followed before submitting proposals for EU projects.

A public information session about ATTRACT took place on 23 May.

The link above also includes a list of the members of the ad hoc CERN Working Group reviewing the proposals where CERN is involved as a potential partner or coordinator. Approaching the members of this group first might be a good initial step if you are intending to apply.

Romain Muller