The aim of the EU_FT-ICR proposal is to establish a European network of FT-ICR (Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance) mass spectrometry centers in association with hardware and software developer SME, a manufacturer and a European consulting company for answering the call INFRAIA-02-2017 (RIA) Integrating Activities for Starting Communities. The call INFRAIA-02-2017 is a two stage procedure and the funding is requested for managing the response of the second step. The first stage call deadline is March 30th 2016, and the second call deadline is March 30th 2017. The answer from the EU to the first stage call is expected late June 2016, so the January 12th ANR MRSEI call fits ideally the timetable. Mass spectrometry (MS) has become one of the most ubiquitous analytical techniques in use today, providing more information on the composition and the structure of a substance from a smaller amount of sample than any other techniques. Unlike other analytical techniques, such as NMR, which mainly rely on a unique technology, MS is characterized by the existence of a large range of instruments combining different ionization sources, mass analyzers and ion fragmentation methods. Considering all the MS techniques currently available, Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) is the most powerful. It offers up to 100 times higher mass resolving power and mass accuracy than any other mass analysis technique. Alternatively, viewed only as a separation device, ultrahigh-resolution FT-ICR MS offering more than 100 times higher peak capacity than the most effective wet chemical separation methods, which makes it possible to analyze complex mixtures without the use of prior chromatography. In FT-ICR MS, ion mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) is obtained by measurement of ion cyclotron frequency in a fixed and homogeneous magnetic field (B). As in NMR, the quality of produced results is directly influenced by the field strength of the superconducting magnet. ICR frequency is proportional to B. Thus, FT-ICR resolved power increases linearly with increasing B. The prize of a FT-ICR MS is comprised between one and two million euros according to the superconducting magnet of the magnetic field which is a key element for the spectrometer performance. The highest field commercially available is 15 Tesla. On the contrary to NMR community, the FT-ICR mass spectrometry community has never been involved in a European INFRA network and so will be a legitimate candidate to the Integrating Activities for Starting Communities call. The EU_FT-ICR network will include 12 FT-ICR centers and 4 companies, of which 12 have already given their agreement, from 10 different European countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom). It will include center equipped with up-to-date FT-ICR MS and expertise which will cover most of the field in which FT-ICR mass spectrometry is involved: BioOrganic & BioInorganic, Cultural heritage, Glycomics, Environment, Imaging, InfraRed Spectroscopy of Ions in the Gas Phase, Lipidomics, Medecine, Petroleum & Coal Oil, Nanoparticles, Organic chemistry, Physical chemistry, Proteomics, Structural biology. The EU_FT-ICR proposal will contains six Work-packages which will covers all the aspects of the INFRAIA-02-2017 (RIA) Integrating Activities for Starting Communities (WP1. Transnational access; WP2 Training and Education; WP3 Open Data and e-Infrastructure; WP 4 Joint Research Action; WP 5 Dissemination; WP6 Consortium management). The requested amount of money (30,000 euros) is for financing the support of a Consulting company for coordinating the writing of the second stage proposal and for organizing three international meeting with the 16 partners (scientific PI of each center, stakeholders, Intellectual Property, Legal Affairs and Economic Development officers).

The Horizon CL5 call D3-01-14 asks for a) Condition and Health Monitoring and b) Wide Bandgap and Ultra-Wide Bandgap power electronics for the energy sector with a focus on converters for wind farms and the DC grid. The MoWiLife consortium addresses this call with the most advanced technology. Basis for the four MoWiLife pilots is a 2.3 kV SiC MOSFET, which will be developed by project partner Infineon. It includes a source-gate PiN diode, whose on-state voltage has a strong temperature dependence and can be read out by the gate drive, which will be developed by Rostock University. In addition, self-protection features will be integrated into the SiC chip for robustness and direct water cooling will be realized for higher output power. Two wind energy converter pilots are being realized in MoWiLife by two industrial partners. As one of the technology leaders in wind energy, Vestas – supported by University of Aalborg – will realize a TRL 6 SiC converter with +20% power density and digital-twin Condition and Health Monitoring. The start-up RKL together with Rostock University will develop a TRL 5 wind energy power stack with Condition and Health Monitoring based on online chip temperature and on-state voltage measurement. Solar medium voltage DC collection grids and meshed high voltage transmission grids will play an important role in the future. As third and fourth pilots, a TRL 5 DC-DC converter and a TRL 5 DC circuit breaker including condition monitoring are being developed by the MoWiLife university partners KTH Stockholm and University of Aberdeen. While SiC is today’s Wide Bandgap material for high power applications, ultra-high voltage Ultra-Wide Bandgap semiconductors may allow further efficiency improvements for future HVDC converters. The MoWiLife industrial partner DiamFab together with two IUNET universities will work on diamond as the ultimate semiconductor material. The TRL is still low but the potential for energy saving is high.