Optical laser-based technologies are a key technology of the 21st century. Extension of the range of scientific and commercial laser applications requires a constant expansion of the accessible regimes of laser operation. Concepts from nonlinear optics, driven with ultra-fast lasers provide all means to achieve this goal. However, nonlinear optics typically suffer from low efficiencies, e.g. if high-order processes are involved or if the driving laser pulse intensities must be limited below damage thresholds (e.g. in nonlinear microscopy of living cells, or nonlinear spectroscopy of com-bustion processes). Hence, we require methods to enhance nonlinear optical processes. The field of “coherent control” provides techniques to manipulate laser-matter interactions. The idea is to use appropriately designed light-matter interactions to steer quantum systems towards a desired out-come, e.g. to support nonlinear optical processes. The goal of HICONO is to combine the concepts of coherent control with high-intensity nonlinear-optical interactions. The particular aim is to enhance the efficiency of nonlinear optical processes and extend the range of high-intensity laser applications. HICONO will develop new coherent con-trol strategies matched to high-intensity nonlinear optics. This will push high-order frequency con-version towards larger output yield, enable novel applications in high-resolution spectroscopy and microscopy, and drive novel technologies for ultra-short pulse generation and characterization. The close cooperation of HICONO with industry partners will lead to commercially relevant devices. In terms of training, HICONO aims at the development of young researchers with appropriate skills to exploit the concepts of high-intensity laser technologies, laser-based control, and applied nonlinear optics. HICONO provides a unique, very broad and technology-oriented early-stage training program with strong exposure of the fellows to industry environment.

Medical and consumer electronics markets drive an ever-growing demand for powerful, compact, high quality and cost-effective femtosecond (fs) sources. Ophthalmic surgery and stent manufacturing in the medical field, post-processing of OLED panels defective pixels and smartphones machining in the consumer electronic field are examples of maturing processes where Ultrafast Lasers (UL) are key enablers. In the global scientific instrumentation market, non-linear multimodal optical microscopy (multiphoton absorption fluorescence or coherent Raman microscopy), high energy photon coherent radiation via high harmonic generation processes, high energy particle beam generation, time-resolved dynamic charge transfer studies in materials are in increasing use in research laboratories. Such increasing business perspectives fuel a worldwide competition for UL manufacturers. The VISUAL project aims to strengthen the leadership of the industrial UL manufacturing partners in the scientific, medical and industrial application fields, based upon a novel design-to-cost and innovative UL platform providing an unprecedented technical versatility. This high-average-power platform will deliver ultrashort optical pulses with pulse-on-demand capability at very high repetition rates (60 MHz) and with extremely broad wavelength tuning ability. The numerous benefits of this platform, designed for multi-purpose applications cases, will be assessed, within the framework of VISUAL, in label-free bio-imaging and medical diagnosis, in on-chip particle acceleration for electron-beam therapy, and in advanced fiber and glass microstructuration.

SMART-X is a multidisciplinary and intersectoral network aiming at the training of scientists who will bring X-ray ultrafast spectroscopy beyond the current state of the art as a standard technique for investigation in crucial sectors of material science, with a particular emphasis on the investigation of charge carrier dynamics in materials relevant for novel energy supply and storage. The network will recruit 15 early stage researchers (ESRs) to work towards the ambitious goal of the development of tabletop X-ray ultrafast spectroscopy in the condensed phase. Within SMART-X, a generation of creative, innovative, well-connected scientists will work towards unveiling the special physics of future and emerging material platforms, by implementing a research program at the physics/chemistry interface with partners from 7 European countries. This network will enhance the career perspectives of the ESRs by training them in a broad range of scientific, technical and transferable skills, through a unique combination of projects, secondments, and tailored courses provided by 8 world-leading academic institutions, two large scale facilities and 2 high-tech companies. Our goal is to establish long-lasting cooperation among the ESRs that will strengthen European competitiveness and innovation capacity.