RIANA is a Horizon Europe funded project which supports curiosity-driven research in nanoscience with open research questions for long-term impact, and challenge-driven research in nanotechnology with targeted research questions for short- and mid-term impact.

At the core of the RIANA consortium is the ARIE network (Analytical Research Infrastructures in Europe) that comprises European networks with a focus on large scale research infrastructures.

Coordinated by DESY, RIANA joins 7 European networks of top-level RIs to cover the most advanced techniques relevant to nanofabrication, processing/synthesis, characterization, and analysis as well as simulation capacity. Highly customized and efficient access to 69 infrastructures is coordinated via a single-entry point and enabled through comprehensive scientific and innovation service by senior scientists, facility experts, and highly trained junior scientists. This project encompasses both curiosity-driven research in nanoscience with open research questions for long-term impact, and challenge-driven research in nanotechnology with targeted research questions for short- and mid-term impact.

This core of RIANA is aligned to attract experienced and new users from academia or industry making their promising ideas a success and pushing them to higher TRL. Being flexible to upcoming emergent scientific topics and needs, together with stakeholders from the Nano-community, RIANA implements the opportunity to offer access to additional infrastructures in, and even outside of Europe and to adapt the scientific service via additionally specialized junior scientists. Based on the four years of experience, the RIANA consortium will develop a roadmap for the future of nanoscience and nanotechnology at European RIs.

RIANA encompasses the entire process chain in nanoscience research and nanotechnolgy from the targeted simulation of nanomaterials and structures to their synthesis and manufacturing, to material characterization, and to the analysis supported by experts.

Access to the most advanced RIs is available through the centralized user office (access links will be available soon).

Science Service provides adequate support to ensure the best use of RIs. At its core, it consists of 21 Junior Scientists from RIANA which are backed by Senior Scientists at each facility offering access to users. The support encompasses: 

• The choice of techniques for optimum use offered by RIANA
• Operating the experiments at RIANA facilities
• Data analysis
• Writing reports and publications 

Innovation Service offers the key to unlock the potential of innovation from access to RIs. It supports industry-oriented RI access and develops the framework and the methodology to adapt access support, in particular for small and medium companies (SME). The aim is to mature their technology, to increase their corresponding TRL, and/or to upscale their production processes.

Organizational structure of RIANA is kept slim with the following work packages:

• WP 1: Management
• WP 2: Customised access to scientific service
• WP 3: Customised access to research infrastructure
• WP 4: Customised access to innovation service
• WP 5: Training and Education
• WP 6: Outreach, dissemination, and impact

At the core of the RIANA project are WP 2–4. WP 3 contains access to RI. WP 2 & 4 offer customized Science Support for academic users, and Innovation Support for industrial users. These packages boost the impact of RI access from the selection of appropriate measurement methods to the dissemination of results. WP 1 takes care of smooth project administration and ethics, and WP 5 & 6 support access with a focus on the long run through training/education and outreach activities.

RIANA is truly committed to fostering Diversity – Equity – Inclusion (DEI). These are not just buzzwords required for a successful proposal, but RIANA installs the position of a DEI officer who is elected by and reports to the RIANA Executive Board (EB). Let’s translate the RIANA proposal into action:

“With RIANA we have it in our hand to contribute to a change of mindset and reality for researchers to be not only at the forefront of their discipline but to act as role models in society.”

With DEI, we mean:

Diversity: mutual enrichment through differences

Equity: fairness to satisfy the needs of every individual

Inclusion: embracing everybody without imposing criteria whatsoever

The RIANA project has nominated two DEI officers (Diversity – Equity – Inclusion). If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, you can confidently contact them.

For more information on DEI Officers and their tasks visit our DEI page.