8–9 Sep
Events
CIISB Events Calendar
Important and interesting events in the domain of large research infrastructures
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CERN’s student programmes are open for applications until 16th October 2026
Czech university students have a bigger chance to be selected to the student programmes of CERN. This has been made possible by the Agreement between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MEYS) and CERN. Within the framework of the programmes, students of Czech universities in technical fields of Doctoral, Master and Bachelor studies can apply for studentship in the areas such as applied physics, IT, mechanical and civil engineering, electronics, robotics, mathematics, etc. The programmes are opened also for “administrative” students in the fields of law, finance, logistics, translation, HR, etc. Doctoral Student Programme allows the students to work on their Ph.D. thesis in CERN. The students can apply for a studentship in fields such as applied physics, IT, mechanical and civil engineering, electronics, robotics, mathematics, etc. The length of the stay at CERN is between 6 and 36 months. Technical Student Programme is aimed at Bachelor and Master Degree students. The students can apply for a studentship in fields such as applied physics, IT, mechanical and civil engineering, electronics, robotics, mathematics, etc. The duration of the internship is from 4 to 12 months. About 120 students are selected for the programme every year. Administrative Student Programme is aimed at undergraduate students specializing in administration (fields as law, finance, HR, translation, logistics, etc.) to spend a training period of 2 to 12 months during the course of their studies (Bachelor or Master) The current deadline for applying for CERN student programmes is 16th October 2026. Graduates of Czech universities and secondary schools can apply to CERN Graduate Programmes. The detailed information is available on the CERN website (links above) or contact Mr Ondřej Novák, Department of Research and Development of the MEYS at ondrej.novak@msmt.gov.cz. An allowance of about 3 486 Swiss Francs per month (net of tax) is provided by CERN to selected students. (Image: CERN)
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ELI’s L3 HAPLS Laser Reaches 0.95 Petawatt
The L3 HAPLS laser system at the Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC (ELI) has reached a peak power of 0.95 petawatts, delivering 26.6 J in 28 fs during its ongoing commissioning ramp-up. The result exceeded the performance expected at this stage of the campaign and marks a major operational milestone on the system’s path to full design specification. The achievement is the result of a long-term collaboration between ELI and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), building on years of joint expertise in high-power laser technology. Following the installation of the L3 HAPLS laser system at ELI, experts from both institutions have worked to safely and systematically increase the laser’s performance toward its design parameters. The key challenge has been the performance of specific optical components operating at high laser intensities and the energy ramp-up of the high-power short-pulse amplifier. Operating at such high intensities requires a careful balance between maximising the laser performance and resistance of highly exposed optical components. To achieve this, the joint team carried out extensive analysis of the results obtained in the previous phase and performed numerical simulations, which led to optimisation of specific optical subsystems and suggested other improvements. The achieved results confirm the analysis predictions and demonstrate the potential of the used laser technology as well as successful strategy of the performance ramping. “Achieving nearly a petawatt confirms that the laser can be pushed toward its design performance safely and predictably,” says Roman Hvězda, Facility Director of ELI Beamlines. “This is a critical step before the system can be operated routinely at full power for experiments.” The next steps will focus on further increasing the nominal peak power to petawatt and beyond, and simultaneously achieving the repetition rate first 3.3 Hz and beyond. These operating conditions will significantly increase the scientific throughput of the facility, enabling demanding experimental campaigns requiring both extreme peak power and high average data rates. Currently, L3 HAPLS is one of the most utilised laser systems within ELI’s User Programme, simultaneously serving three experimental stations. Its unique combination of peak power, stability, high reliability, and repetition rate, supports a wide variety of user experiments. The laser supports a broad range of research, including laser-driven acceleration of ultrashort particle bunches, brilliant hard X-ray generation, high-energy-density physics, radiobiology, and advanced materials research. These capabilities enable developments in medical research, industrial diagnostics, cultural heritage studies, energy research, and security applications. The continued commissioning of L3 HAPLS advances laser technology and further expands ELI’s capabilities as an international user facility for high-field and high-energy-density science. Press release: https://www.eli-laser.eu/news/elis-l3-hapls-laser-reaches-095-petawatt/
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Ministry of Health Presents the First National Strategy for Clinical Trials. CZECRIN Contributed to Its Preparation
On 15 July 2026, the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic presented the first National Strategy for Clinical Trials of Human Medicinal Products in the Czech Republic 2035. The document establishes a long-term framework for the development of clinical research, improved conditions for conducting clinical trials, and broader patient access to innovative treatment. Among the contributors to its preparation was the Czech Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (CZECRIN). The strategy was presented at a press conference in Prague by the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch, together with representatives of the partners involved. It was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic, the State Institute for Drug Control, VVI CZECRIN, the Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations ACRO-CZ, the Czech Health Research Council, healthcare providers, professional societies, patient organizations, and other members of the Ministry of Health’s Working Group for Clinical Trials. Clinical trials can give patients access to innovative treatment even before it becomes routinely available in clinical practice. For healthcare facilities, they strengthen professional capacity, and for the Czech Republic they represent an investment in science, research, and healthcare. The strategy also aims to strengthen the Czech Republic’s position among European leaders in clinical research. Doc. MUDr. Regina Demlová, Ph.D., Director of the national research infrastructure CZECRIN, which is part of the Faculty of Medicine at Masaryk University, drew attention to the importance of academic clinical trials during the presentation of the strategy. Fewer of these are conducted in the Czech Republic than the potential of domestic research facilities would allow. According to her, the strategy represents an important step toward their systematic support, the development of professional capacity, and the strengthening of international cooperation among Czech research centres. The main priorities of the strategy include the further digitalization of processes, the standardization of contractual procedures, support for academic clinical trials, the development of professional capacity, the strengthening of international cooperation, and systematic communication with patients, healthcare professionals, and international partners. One of the first concrete outcomes is the launch of a new national web portal on clinical trials, which VVI CZECRIN is also helping to prepare. The portal will bring together verified and clearly presented information in one place for patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, and sponsors of clinical trials. Its launch is planned for the summer of 2026. National Strategy for Clinical Trials of Human Medicinal Products in the Czech Republic 2035: https://mzd.gov.cz/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Narodni-strategie-klinickych-hodnoceni-humannich-lecivych-pripravku-v-CR-2035.pdf