EUCALL · Project

Precision Instruments for Laser and X-Ray Facilities Now Available to Industry

manufacturingPrototypeTRL 5Thin data (2/5)

Imagine Europe's most powerful laser and X-ray labs were each building their own tools from scratch — like every restaurant inventing its own oven. EUCALL brought 11 of these facilities together across 8 countries to build shared precision instruments: ultra-accurate sample positioners, arrival-time monitors, and microscopes that work in extreme vacuum. They built 9 working prototypes that any of these labs can now plug into their setups, saving years of duplicated engineering.

By the numbers

EUR 7,000,000

EU contribution for developing shared laser/X-ray infrastructure tools

Partner facilities across Europe sharing technology

Countries represented in the consortium

Working prototypes delivered (monitors, positioners, microscopes, software)

Total deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Advanced laser and X-ray facilities worldwide each spend millions developing their own sample handling, timing diagnostics, and monitoring instruments from scratch. This duplicated engineering effort wastes resources and creates incompatible systems that prevent researchers and industrial users from moving samples and experiments between facilities efficiently.

The solution

What was built

Nine working prototypes: THz-based and liquid-jet-based arrival-time monitors, a high-precision UHV sample positioning device, an ultra-high vacuum microscope, a sample holder with cooling and heating, automatic sample identification software, a calibrated X-ray gas monitor (XGM), and integrated sample stages with microscope. All were built, tested, and made available across the consortium.

Audience

Who needs this

Precision instrument manufacturers serving synchrotron and FEL facilitiesPhotonics companies developing ultrafast laser diagnostics and timing equipmentVacuum technology companies building UHV-compatible stages and microscopesMaterials characterization service providers using X-ray analysisScientific software companies developing sample tracking and identification tools

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Scientific Instrumentation

SME

Target: Companies manufacturing precision positioning stages or vacuum-compatible microscopes

If you are a precision instrument manufacturer struggling to serve the growing market of laser and X-ray user facilities — this project developed a sample positioning device with high-precision UHV scanning stages, built and tested across 11 partner facilities. The technology is explicitly available for integration into commercial instrumentation, giving you a validated design backed by 7 major European research organizations.

Semiconductor & Materials Analysis

mid-size

Target: Companies providing inline metrology or materials characterization services

If you are a materials analysis company needing faster, more accurate sample handling for X-ray characterization — EUCALL built an automatic sample identification software and integrated sample stages with a UHV microscope. These prototypes were designed for high-throughput user facilities processing hundreds of samples, and the cross-facility validation across 8 countries proves they work in demanding real-world conditions.

Photonics & Laser Technology

SME

Target: Companies developing timing and diagnostic equipment for pulsed laser systems

If you are a photonics company developing diagnostics for ultrafast laser systems — this project produced 3 distinct arrival-time monitoring prototypes: THz-based, liquid-jet-based, and an X-ray gas monitor (XGM), all calibrated and tested. With 38 total deliverables documenting the engineering, these designs could accelerate your product development for the growing free-electron laser market.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or access these prototype technologies?

The project was publicly funded with EUR 7,000,000 under Horizon 2020 (RIA), meaning results are typically available under open or preferential licensing terms. Specific licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the coordinator, European XFEL GmbH in Germany. No commercial pricing has been published.

Can these prototypes be scaled for industrial production?

The 9 demo deliverables are all at prototype stage — built and tested, but within research facility environments, not industrial production lines. The sample positioning device is explicitly described as 'available for all institutes to be integrated in their instrumentation,' suggesting it is ready for engineering transfer. Full industrial scaling would require additional product development.

Who owns the intellectual property from this project?

IP from Horizon 2020 RIA projects is typically owned by the partner that generated it. With 11 partners across 8 countries and no industry partners in the consortium, IP is likely held by the research organizations. Contact European XFEL GmbH to discuss access or licensing terms for specific prototypes.

Are these instruments compatible with existing lab setups?

Cross-facility compatibility was a core design goal. The prototypes were built to work across both optical laser and X-ray facilities — the project explicitly aimed to 'enhance interoperability of the two types of light sources.' The sample identification software was tested across multiple institutes for compatibility.

What is the current status of these prototypes?

The project ended in September 2018. All 9 demo prototypes were completed: arrival-time monitors, sample positioning devices, UHV microscope, sample holders, sample identification software, and an X-ray gas monitor. Post-project development may have continued at individual partner facilities. Current availability should be verified directly.

Is there regulatory approval for any of these instruments?

These are research-grade prototypes developed for use in scientific user facilities, not regulated commercial products. No regulatory certification (CE marking, etc.) is indicated in the project data. Any commercialization would require standard product certification processes.

Consortium

Who built it

The EUCALL consortium is heavily research-oriented: 7 research organizations and 2 universities, with zero industry partners and zero SMEs. This is typical for a research infrastructure coordination project. The 11 partners span 8 countries (Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Sweden), anchored by European XFEL GmbH in Germany — one of the world's leading X-ray laser facilities. The consortium includes major ESFRI projects (ELI, European XFEL, ESRF) and networks (LASERLAB-EUROPE, FELs OF EUROPE). For a business considering these technologies, the lack of industrial partners means commercialization was not the primary goal, but the concentration of Europe's top photon science facilities means the engineering quality is exceptionally high.

EUROPEAN X-RAY FREE-ELECTRON LASERFACILITY GMBHCoordinator · DE
LUNDS UNIVERSITETparticipant · SE
EUROPEAN SYNCHROTRON RADIATION FACILITYparticipant · FR
EXTREME LIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE ERICparticipant · CZ
ELETTRA - SINCROTRONE TRIESTE SCPAparticipant · IT
FYZIKALNI USTAV AV CR V.V.Ithirdparty · CZ
ELI-HU KUTATASI ES FEJLESZTESI NONPROFIT KOZHASZNU KORLATOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAGthirdparty · HU
PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUTparticipant · CH
DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESYparticipant · DE
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM DRESDEN-ROSSENDORF EVparticipant · DE
INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA SI INGINERIE NUCLEARA-HORIA HULUBEIthirdparty · RO

How to reach the team

European XFEL GmbH (Hamburg, Germany) — search for EUCALL project contact or technology transfer office at European XFEL

Order a report on this consortium See EUROPEAN X-RAY FREE-ELECTRON LASERFACILITY GMBH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing one of EUCALL's 9 prototype instruments for your product line? SciTransfer can connect you with the right team at European XFEL and navigate the IP landscape.

Order a report on this topic More in Manufacturing & Industry 4.0