Abstract

By intensive Twinning and networking activities with top Quantum Technology laboratories, namely the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel at the Sorbonne Université (SU) and the Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) in Lyngby, the Optics Department of the Palacký University in Olomouc (UP), the Czech Republic, aims to enhance its research profile in modern quantum science, eliminate the main bottlenecks of the expanding theory group in Olomouc and increase its impact within the EU.

The upgrade of RMA skills of the UP team with an emphasis on proposal preparation, effective project leadership and dissemination & communication of research results is an integral part of the Twinning activities. These activities, supported by the Horizon 2020 project NONGAUSS, are implemented between 2021 and 2023. They aim to eliminate fractional knowledge of RMA, leadership, dissemination and communication at the UP, significantly enhance the contribution of the UP in the FET Flagship on Quantum Technologies, FET OPEN program, ERC grants and Horizon Europe program and in this way to support intensive development of modern quantum physics in the Czech Republic and the potential application of quantum technology in the industry.

Special training sessions focused on the preparation & management of the EU research projects and fellowships at the UP and short-term stays of UP project management & administration staff at the partner´s departments support knowledge transfer from management & administration of research teams and projects at DTU and SU to similar university units of the UP.

An intensive consultation of preparation & management of specific EU R&D grant proposals and fellowships proposals for short-term stays is underway. Knowledge acquired during trainings is then deepened and verified during the preparation of joint research projects. Contacts with colleagues from DTU and SU project management & administration departments are also strengthened during joint workshops and summer schools. Direct personal contacts of project management and administration teams of UP and SU and DTU have been established.

Knowledge transfer for RMAs is combined with the training process of researchers, their networking, including the organisation of joint workshops, summer schools, expert visits, presentations at international conferences and colloquia and dissemination of the knowledge to the broader quantum community and communication to the general public focused on the younger generation and policymakers.

More than two years of Twinning improved the capability of Palacky University to compete successfully for national, EU/internationally competitive research funding. The benefits were materialised, e.g. through the work on collaborative research projects, several joint EU proposals and fellowships submitted and supported under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.
The positive impact is evident on Early-stage researchers, e.g., by the preparation of many individual fellowship applications supported by the Czech Science Foundation.