The „HiLASE – Centre of Excellence“ (HiLASE CoE) project has been launched at the Czech Institute of Physics’ HiLASE facility near Prague, which focuses on the development of high-repetition lasers and laser systems with breakthrough technical parameters for industries, research laboratories as well as the future European large-scale facilities within the European Research Area (ERA).

HiLASE CoE is the first project in the Czech Republic to be funded under the „Widespread Teaming“ programme within Horizon 2020 EU Research and Innovation programme. The festive kick-off ceremony was held on Tuesday, May16, 2017 and was attended by the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences Eva Zažímalová, the Director of the Institute of Physics of the CAS Michael Prouza, the Head of HiLASE Centre Tomáš Mocek, the Director of the Central Laser Facility of the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (which is the HiLASE strategic partner) John Collier, Magda de Carli representing the European Commission, British Ambassador to the Czech Republic H. E. Jan Thompson, and other distinguished guests.

Robert-Jan Smits, the Director General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission (photo: Stanislava Kyselová)

The Director General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, Mr. Robert-Jan Smits, who visited the HiLASE Centre on Friday, April 28^th, 2017, used the opportunity to see the clean laser development labs and the application areas. In his salutatory speech, Mr. Robert-Jan Smits congratulated the HiLASE team on their tremendous success in winning the prestigious Teaming project and added: “It clearly shows that scientific excellence has no borders in Europe.” He said:

Robert-Jan Smits speaks with Jana Olivová from the Czech Academy of Sciences 

The HiLASE (High average power pulsed lasers) is a key technological infrastructure dealing with the development and application of top lasers and laser technologies with significant application potential in both research and industries – more efficient, more compact and stable than anywhere else in the world. They include primarily diode-pumped solid-state lasers with high pulse energy and high repetition frequency with parameters that are not currently available. Outputs of the project have great application potential in the commercial sphere and will be used e.g. for micro-machining technologies, testing resistance of optical materials, cutting, welding, removal of deposits and laser peening etc.

Text: Jana Olivová, the Czech Academy of Sciences
Photo: Stanislava Kyselová, the Czech Academy of Sciences