Lasers4EU is incorporating the major laser research infrastructures, in a large number of European member states, into a comprehensive virtual distributed laser research infrastructure that is offering to a broad user community, from academia and industry, access to an exceptional portfolio of technical and scientific capabilities. This unique set of instruments together with the specific scientific expertise at the host facilities allows Lasers4EU users to carry out high-level research in an extremely wide range of high-impact topics in life sciences, materials nano-processing, etc. Laser technology has experienced remarkable advances and breakthroughs and is now a key innovation driver for highly diversified societal applications and products, thereby substantially contributing to economic growth and to solving challenges in the areas of health, environment and energy. Through its strategic approach, Lasers4EU aims to strengthen Europe’s leading position and competitiveness. It facilitates long-term coordination of the laser research activities within the European Research Area and provides concerted and efficient services to scientific, industrial and medical researchers. The main objectives of Lasers4EU are to: • provide coordinated access to high-quality services based on a coherent and comprehensive consortium of 27 leading European laser installations offering to users from academia as well as from industry cutting-edge performances at the forefront of the laser technologies, • structure the European landscape of laser Research Infrastructure through enhanced access, extended geographical coverage, novel science diplomacy activities, improved synergies with other European networks and projects, • increase European human resources in the field of laser science by implementing training activities towards researchers from new domains of science and technology and from geographical regions where laser communities are still less developed.

Ambitious goals of the European Green Deal call for new sustainable and material-efficient manufacturing technologies that can reduce energy and raw material consumption; this objective can be upheld by extending the product life via optimized production methods, recovering product performance through refurbishing, and even improving its functions beyond design by remanufacturing. These are the overarching objectives of RE-MAKE that considers cold spray (CS), a solid-state metal powder deposition technique, as the key for a new route to additive manufacturing (AM), repair and remanufacturing. Thanks to its exceptional deposition efficiency, high build-up rate, limited energy consumption, and flexibility of material choice, CS is an ideal candidate for the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. However, currently, there are multiple scientific and industrial gaps, paired with poor awareness about CS’s potential due to the lack of qualified engineers and scientists, that impede the full exploitation of CS. RE-MAKE is planned to establish CS as a unique sustainable and scalable tool for AM, remanufacturing and upcycling, paving the path to a green and efficient sustainable industrial development. This ambitious goal will be achieved by training highly qualified doctoral candidates (DCs) through advanced transversal and inter-sectoral training. The wide-ranging hard and soft skills the DCs will gain enable them to embark on tackling scientific and technological challenges with a practical perspective. Creating a network of leading European research and industrial partners, all working at the cutting edge of CS, will expose DCs to a holistic training with access to a wealth of expertise and a rare multidisciplinary environment. RE-MAKE will endow a first cohort of these essential researchers with a deep, discipline-specific knowledge, that will fulfil the increasing demand of the manufacturing industry for this missing profile.

EUROfusion’s updated Fusion Research Roadmap aims to acquire the necessary knowledge to start constructing a demonstration fusion power plant (DEMO) five years after ITER is in full-power operation. DEMO will deliver fusion electricity to the grid early in the second half of the century. The Roadmap has been articulated in eight different Missions. The present proposal has the goal of implementing the activities described in the Roadmap during Horizon Europe through a joint programme of the members of the EUROfusion Consortium, with the following high-level objectives: 1. Construct and commission ITER; 2. Secure the success of future ITER operation via preparation and experiments on present devices; 3. Develop the conceptual design of a DEMO fusion power plant; 4. Finalise the design and construct a fusion spectrum neutron source (IFMIF-DONES); 5. Advance the stellarator as an alternative approach to fusion power plants; 6. Prepare the ITER and DEMO generations of scientists, engineers and operators; 7. Promote innovation and European industry competitiveness in fusion technology and beyond. The ITER success remains an important overarching objective of the programme and much attention is devoted to ensure that ITER operation is properly prepared, and that a new generation of scientists and engineers is thoroughly educated and trained for its exploitation. DEMO is the only step between ITER and a commercial fusion power plant. To achieve the goal of fusion electricity demonstration in the early 2050-ies, the DEMO Conceptual Design has to be completed by 2030 at the latest, to allow the start of the Engineering Design Activities. DEMO cannot be defined and designed by research laboratories alone, but requires the full involvement of industry in all technological and systems aspects of the design. Therefore, specific provisions for the involvement of industry in the Consortium activities are envisaged.

A Roadmap to the realization of fusion energy was adopted by the EFDA system at the end of 2012. The roadmap aims at achieving all the necessary know-how to start the construction of a demonstration power plant (DEMO) by 2030, in order to reach the goal of fusion electricity in the grid by 2050. The roadmap has been articulated in eight different Missions. The present proposal has the goal of implementing the activities described in the Roadmap during Horizon 2020 through a joint programme of the members of the EUROfusion Consortium. ITER is the key facility in the roadmap. Thus, ITER success remains the most important overarching objective of the programme and, in the present proposal the vast majority of resources in Horizon 2020 are devoted to ensure that ITER is built within scope, time and budget; its operation is properly prepared; and a new generation of scientists and engineers is properly educated (at undergraduate and PhD level) and trained (at postdoctoral level) for its exploitation. DEMO is the only step between ITER and a commercial fusion power plant. To achieve the goal of fusion electricity demonstration by 2050, DEMO construction has to begin in the early 2030s at the latest, to allow the start of operation in the early 2040s. DEMO cannot be defined and designed by research laboratories alone, but requires the full involvement of industry in all technological and systems aspects of the design. Specific provisions for the involvement of industry in the Consortium activities are envisaged.