Brief description Strengthening the skills of local companies to take advantage of the services and equipment on advance accelerator technology available at two large research centres which are being developed in the Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak cross-border region and other research facilities.
Region Internal EU borders
Countries Sweden (SE) – Denmark (DK) – Norway (NO)
Location Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak cross-border region (SE-DK-NO)
Type of project partners Regional government units
Public bodies/institutions
Educational institutions
SMEs
Size (total budget including EU grants) Over € 500,000
Main themes Research, technological development, innovation and ICT
Keywords (Types of Activities) Research and studies
Publications, websites, databases
Marketing, promotional activities, awareness campaigns
Keywords (Aspects of Good Practice) Genuine cross-border dimension
Innovative
Good dissemination
Good sustainability

Background and Objectives The Cluster for Accelerator Technology (CATE) is an Interreg project placed in the cross-border region of Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak (ÖKS). It involves some 20 partners – universities, regional councils and other organisations – in Sweden, Denmark and Norway and aims at strengthening sustainable economic growth in the ÖKS-region by contributing to the development of a cluster in accelerator technology.

With this project, the universities invite existing companies in the region to participate in tailor-made courses and a competence development programme within accelerator technology. In the long run, the competence development will improve the companies’ opportunities of getting contracts for construction and maintenance of research facilities that demand advanced accelerator technology equipment, including two large research facilities (ESS and  MAX IV) which are being developed in the ÖKS-region.

The project has four main goals:

  1. to foster knowledge-based entrepreneurship in the region.
  2. to create lasting business collaborations across borders.
  3. to give companies the opportunity of competence development with respect to how they can contribute to the design, production and maintenance of the planned research facilities.
  4. to ensure a continuing collaboration of research centres across borders.
Main activities The activities of the project are:

  • Building company contacts and creating a list of relevant companies.
  • Creating awareness of the project among companies.
  • Identifying companies and creating relevant company groupings.
  • Competence development for all companies through tailor-made courses.
  • Competence development for companies producing the prototype.
  • Compiling and presenting the result.
  • Following and communicating the development within accelerator technology.
Main results Fifty companies participated in the CATE project eager to deliver products to research facilities all over the world. Many of them have experience in construction and production of highly technological products and many have been involved in advanced research projects. As a group, they have a fairly wide combination of expertise in fields like materials processing, measurement technology, construction, control systems, engineering services, automation, cryogenics and RF technology. Detailed information about these companies has been presented in the CATE brochure (available on the project website).
Aspects of good practice

CATE is a particularly innovative cross-border project with excellent prospects for sustainable and long-term benefits.

Since many of the products and services needed are very complex by nature, knowledge transfer between academia and industry is needed in order to succeed. After identifying companies with potential for producing equipment in accordance with the requirements of accelerator based operations, the project encouraged the formation of a sub-cluster among the relevant companies to create sustainable collaboration. This is only possible in the frame of a cross-border project, since none of the three countries individually would have the capacity and resources for the venture.

Thus, CATE brings a new way for the region to benefit from future investments in research plants, contributing to economic growth and job opportunities. Furthermore, it extends knowledge across borders and professions, and creates a link between highly specialised academic knowledge and the manufacturing of sophisticated equipment.
Start and completion dates:
January 2011 – June 2014
More information

Lead Partner Öresundsuniversitetet/Lunds universitet
T: +46 46-222 0332, 222 1747