Berlin, 17–18 September 2025 — The RF2.0 project consortium gathered at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) for a dynamic two-day meeting, bringing together all partners to review progress, tackle challenges, and shape the next phase of the project. Hosted in Berlin-Adlershof, the event underscored the collaborative spirit and shared commitment to advancing sustainable research infrastructures.
The first day featured comprehensive updates from Work Package leaders, who presented the latest achievements, ongoing challenges, and plans for upcoming actions. Each presentation was followed by a Q&A session, fostering open dialogue and collective problem-solving among the consortium partners.
Day two was dedicated to the next step of the exploitation planning. Partners worked together to further describe all exploitable results expected from the project, discussing the protection of IP and publication options aligned with Open Science practices. This structured discussion ensured that scientific outputs are closely aligned with the project’s broader impact goals and that key results reach relevant external audiences.
A highlight of the meeting was an in-depth tour of HZB’s BESSY II facility. Partners explored the main control room, the accelerator tunnels housing the storage ring , and the photovoltaic (PV) facade of a new building. In the control room, operators monitor and adjust the accelerator’s performance using advanced systems that track beam current, orbit stability, vacuum levels, and magnet settings, ensuring stable, high-quality photon beams.
The accelerator tunnels house the 240-meter-circumference storage ring, where electrons circulate near the speed of light. Observing this infrastructure illustrated practical aspects of low-carbon technologies and energy-efficient operations, directly relevant to the RF2.0 project. The partners also visited the Cryoelectra Solid-State Amplifier (SSA) in the booster cavity, enhancing RF performance and connecting to RF2.0’s Demonstrator Project 2 (DP2), which aims to reduce energy consumption through smart, high-efficiency technologies. Finally, the photovoltaic facade generates part of the building’s electricity while serving as a “living lab” to monitor performance under varying conditions, reflecting RF2.0’s goal of integrating renewable energy sources. Overall, the tour offered practical insights into advanced accelerator technologies and sustainable practices, directly informing and inspiring the RF2.0 project.
The meeting concluded with renewed enthusiasm and a clear roadmap for the coming months. Planning is already underway for the next in-person consortium meeting, set for spring 2026 and to be hosted by our colleagues at ALBA.
