Around the Alba Synchrotron, one of Catalonia's most advanced scientific infrastructures, there are still empty plots. The surroundings of research parks like this one are usually characterized by the presence of other institutions, which complement their research and generate synergies among their members. In the case of Cerdanyola del Vallès, the closest centers are those linked to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), which are too far to reach on foot.
The synchrotron wants to break this solitude and isolation, and foster collaboration with other scientific institutions close to its facilities through the Astip project, which aims to attract 350 million from the Next Generation EU funds. The goal is to promote a scientific hub in Cerdanyola that brings together about 1,000 researchers, distributed between the synchrotron and three new centers located in the Alba Park. Currently, more than 200 researchers work at the synchrotron.
For the director of the Alba Synchrotron, Caterina Biscari, the concentration and proximity of talent will allow this area to be revitalized, in addition to fostering research and the creation of new projects. It will also serve to allow the natural growth of the synchrotron, generating the necessary space for those lines of research that have long been limited within it. "It is an investment in the future. The opportunity to make it a reality is now because there are the resources to do it. This moment cannot be wasted," defends Biscari.
This new model that is to be promoted in Alba arose from the call made by the Generalitat at the end of 2020 to find initiatives that could receive European funds. The Astip project was one of those selected in February by the Catalan administration as a candidate to receive them. It is integrated into a set of measures that the Government wants to promote to modernize the different scientific infrastructures in Catalonia and has a total budget of 2,811.1 million euros.
Three new centers of 10,000 square meters
Specifically, the Astip project contemplates the construction of two research centers, Comtec and Ambic, which will allow deepening collaboration with other institutions, which until now could rent the facilities to do research in the synchrotron, but did not have their own space. Each will have an area of 10,000 square meters and will be connected to the synchrotron light.
The first center will specialize in materials and technologies that enable energy transition and digitalization and will be promoted with the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB), the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE). Initially, Comtec will have a team of between 200 and 250 researchers, details the director of ICMAB, Xavier Obradors. On the other hand, Ambic will study molecular processes that allow a better understanding of infections such as the coronavirus, explains scientist Nuria Verdaguer, providing the necessary tools to face those that are to come. With about 150 researchers, it will be developed hand in hand with the Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB).
These two centers, clearly aligned with the objectives pursued by European funds, will be complemented by a third, Syndustry, which will create for the first time a space within the synchrotron facilities designed to host companies, in collaboration with Eurecat and the UAB. Startups and SMEs will be able to benefit from the synchrotron light to test new materials and processes that allow them to improve their operations, accompanied by Alba scientists in a 10,000 square meter building.
Transformation into a fourth-generation synchrotron
In addition to the construction of three new centers, the Astip project includes the renovation of the Alba Synchrotron, which will go from being a third-generation synchrotron to a fourth-generation one. With a budget of 120 million euros, this improvement of the facilities will allow it to generate brighter light and more advanced research. The construction of the new synchrotron, Alba II, is expected to begin this year and end in 2028. In this regard, Biscari points out that the transformation of the synchrotron into Alba II is already underway. The infrastructure has received the first 7.5 million euros for its reform, from European funds, which will allow it to design the prototypes of the new synchrotron.