ATMO-ACCESS is a European project aiming at creating opportunities for a sustainable provision of access to Europe’s most advanced facilities for observation and exploration in atmospheric science. This third TransNational Access Call will allow researchers, entrepreneurs, developers and project bearers to gain access to 52 of the leading European atmospheric research facilities.
Accessing testing or experimental grounds can be a real obstacle course: physical access to research facilities is restricted, might be costly and can require painstakingly long-to-obtain authorisations. With this new TransNational Access Call, ATMO ACCESS opponents the door to a wide of state-of-the-art European atmospheric facilities: ground-based observation stations, atmospheric simulation chambers, mobile facilities and even central atmospheric science laboratories, even providing in some cases remote access to some stations. More details about the facilities, including the instruments available on location, can be found at https://www.atmo-access.eu/facilities/
Who can apply?
To encourage responses from a diversity of applicants’ profiles, ATMO ACESS has set a broad base criterion: how does accessing one of the call’s facilities will benefit the applicant’s ongoing research, development or innovation activity? This broad selection process allows for a multitude of possible scenarios for the potential applicants: a manufacturer developing an instrument that needs to be tested, a researcher working with a local authority on a tricky air pollution problem or an Early Career Researcher wanting to test out their new theory or idea. All these cases, and more, might be eligible. Special attention will be given to projects requiring a new and unconventional use of the facilities that would combine research interests, knowledge, and resources of the user and the facility staff.
Access to the facilities is free of charge and includes the logistical, technological and scientific support and the specific training that is needed to use the services provided by the facility. Moreover, ATMO ACCESS might be able to provide partial compensation for the applicants’ marginal costs such as travel or accommodation expenses, under certain conditions.
How to apply?
Applicants must use the PASS Platform to answer this call, where they will be asked to provide a short proposal outlining the proposed project, the problem it addresses and how it is linked to the applicant’s ongoing activities. The applicant will also be asked which funds they can count on for the travels in addition to ATMO-ACCESS’s partial contribution and how access to the ATMO-ACCESS infrastructure will enable progress that would otherwise have not been possible.
Users are warmly encouraged to interact directly with the PIs (user-group leaders) of the facilities during the preparation of TNA proposals and before their submission to verify details of access, address practicalities and explore.
In order to apply, applicants should complete the online Application form before January 5th 2023. The application will be reviewed first by the Access Evaluation Panel and the final decision will be made by the Strategic TNA Board to ensure competitiveness in TNA allocation.
The call timeline is as follows:
- Call dates: 10 Oct 2022 -5 Jan 2023
- Info day for users and providers: 7 Dec 2022 (virtual)
- Feasibility until 20 Jan 2023
- Review until 17 Feb 2023
- Final selection meeting 20-24 Feb 2023
- Final list on 28 Feb 2023
- Indicative access period: March 2023 / March 2024
Here you will find everything you need to apply:
- Application form for Scientific, Innovation, Technical services (only for preview)
- Application form for Technical services (only for preview)
- Application form for Training services (only for preview)
- User application form guidelines
More detailed information can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page. For any other questions or for assistance, do not hesitate to contact the ATMO-ACCESS TNA team at tna@atmo-access.eu. You can also read more about the application and evaluation processes at https://www.atmo-access.eu/tna-call-application/