Message from the CEFITEC coordinator

Another two years have passed with an accelerated pace at CEFITEC. The years 2022 and 2023 proved to be highly rewarding for our team of researchers. Despite challenges in securing national funding, we successfully embarked on two new large-scale European projects aimed at studying the effects of high-energy radiation on the environment and human health, and establishing metrology frameworks for carbon capture, utilization, and storage. Moreover, two of our integrated researchers secured CEEC researcher positions, while several students obtained PhD scholarships through competitive calls. Our services have generated increased funds to support research activities, and our close collaborations with industry have continued to flourish. Furthermore, significant technological advancements were achieved, underpinned by a solid understanding of fundamental principles.

Progress in solar-pumped laser technology has been particularly noteworthy, signaling promising advancements towards enhancing its efficiency and competitiveness as a renewable energy source. A significant milestone for our team was the publication of the first book on Solar Lasers, by invitation from Springer Nature, further acknowledging CEFITEC's leadership in the field. Additionally, our studies on radiosensitizers have unveiled electron transfer processes as potential key drivers, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of these chemical compounds in cancer therapy.

In the domain of advanced training, 7 students successfully completed their PhDs and 12 students have concluded their master's degrees, further reinforcing our contribution in preparing skilled professionals.

As we transition into 2023, we have concluded an assessment period. With the evaluation process on the horizon, CEFITEC is confident in the proper recognition of its performance. Despite our small size, we have solidified our position as important international players in vacuum metrology and instrumentation, charge exchange processes in molecular physics, and solar-pumped lasers. Our momentum is high, with a clear trajectory towards further progresses. Active collaborations with respected institutions such as CERN, numerous National Metrology Institutes, universities across Europe, and private companies continue to amplify the impact of our research and development activities not only on the scientific community, but also on industry, regulatory bodies, and society in general.

Orlando Teodoro