On August 27, ESS organised its third Innovation Day, this year hosted by Tetra Pak in Lund. Innovation Day is a key event bringing together leading academics from universities and industry representatives to explore how the new research opportunities at ESS can drive innovation in sustainable materials development. This year's Innovation Day emphasised strengthening the partnership with industry and academia, with discussions now underway for a pilot collaboration model.
The event, organised by the ESS High-Level Industrial Forum, aims to align the interests of future users, both from the scientific community and the industrial sector, to maximise the societal benefits of ESS. Helmut Schober, Director General of ESS, underscores the significance of this collaboration: "As ESS will open its doors soon, it is increasingly important for us to convene the future users, both from the scientific world and industry, to ensure that society can fully benefit from this world-class research facility. ESS offers unique tools with unparalleled performance that, with the help of neutron beams, can provide new insights to solve the great challenges of our time."
"Materials research is crucial in transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and Tetra Pak has committed to investing approximately €100m per year in packaging research and development between 2020 and 2030. We strive to design packaging with simplified material structures to lessen the environmental impact of our cartons. Neutron research has huge potential in uncovering important new findings, and the industry will benefit greatly from ESS and the opportunities that the facility provides," says Joakim Tuvesson, Head of Material and Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak, and the host of this year’s Innovation Day in Lund.
The Innovation Day also featured keynote speakers such as Professor Toshiya Otomo from J-PARC, who discussed how industry-wide collaboration is fostered in Japan, and Professor Mene Pangalos, former global research director at AstraZeneca and a newly elected member of the ESS High-Level Industrial Forum.
ESS's Innovation Day continues to inspire dialogue and cooperation, paving the way for more concrete collaborations between academia and industry. Looking ahead to the launch of First Science, it is anticipated that a company may be among the first users of ESS, showcasing the facility's potential to drive innovation and sustainability across various sectors.
