When MAX IV’s roadshow – a national tour of Swedish universities – stopped at Chalmers on 4 May, research collaboration was firmly in focus. MAX IV presented its plans for the MAX 4U upgrade, while Chalmers researchers showcased case studies in materials, energy, and life science, demonstrating how they could benefit from the initiative. The day also included meetings and discussions centered on future collaborations.
What did Chalmers take away from the day – and what happens next? Magnus Hörnqvist Colliander, coordinator for MAX IV and ESS at Chalmers, reflects on the day and the significance of MAX IV – Sweden’s national synchrotron radiation research facility in Lund.
“The visit had two purposes. The first was to create awareness of and engagement with the planned MAX 4U upgrade, which MAX IV aims to carry out in a few years’ time and is currently preparing for. The upgrade is expected to create many new opportunities through increased photon flux, a smaller beam size and greater sensitivity. For us, this means faster measurements with increased precision and accuracy, making it possible to address entirely new types of research questions.
“The second purpose was to create opportunities for meetings – both between Chalmers researchers and staff from MAX IV, and for discussions about more long-term and strategic collaborations. This concerns how Chalmers and MAX IV can work together within the framework of the strategy Chalmers will be pursuing in the years ahead.”
What did you primarily take away from the meeting between Chalmers and MAX IV during the day?
“It is tremendously exciting to see the level of ambition behind MAX 4U. To remain competitive, research facilities such as MAX IV must continuously evolve. It is important to remember that the facility started operations ten years ago and was then uniquely world-leading thanks to the new technology that had been developed. Since then, other synchrotrons have been upgraded using the same – and in many cases further developed – technology, meaning that the competitive landscape looks different today. The purpose of MAX 4U is to once again make MAX IV the world’s leading synchrotron within its energy range.”
How was Chalmers’ research received, and which strengths stood out most clearly during the day?
“Both the presentations and the discussions made it clear that Chalmers is a major user of MAX IV across several areas in which we are already scientifically strong and aim to continue developing further. This particular meeting focused on catalysis, batteries, life science and more industry-related materials issues. In all of these areas, we are at the forefront and have extensive experience of using large-scale infrastructures to drive research at the scientific frontier.”
What are the next steps following the roadshow – and how will Chalmers take this work forward over the coming year?
“In terms of preparations for MAX 4U, we look forward to working together with MAX IV to formulate strong and focused scientific cases, based on the ideas presented during the day, in order to support the initiative. As for the more long-term collaboration discussions, several opportunities were identified that we will follow up on during the year.
“We want both to further strengthen areas in which we are already strong, and to create space to promote other environments that are strategically important for Chalmers. That is why it is important to identify mechanisms that are both flexible and sustainable over time. We feel that this meeting format was very successful, and we hope it can become a recurring activity together with MAX IV,” concludes Magnus Hörnqvist Colliander.
RELATED:
▶ Chalmers’ engagement in MAX IV and ESS
▶ MAX IV Roadshow: a collaborative journey with Swedish universities
▶ MAX IV, Lund University
▶ Are you a Chalmers researcher interested in joining the network around MAX IV? Sign up here
- Head of Division, Microstructure Physics, Physics and Astronomy
