A robust sensor capable of precisely identifying the energy of, and imaging the gamma radiation field associated with radioactive material, is needed that will operate in hostile working environments. The proposed project will bring together three partners, the University of Liverpool, BAe Systems Submarine Solutions and John Caunt Scientific (JCS). The partners bring expertise in gamma-ray detector systems, packaging for robust hostile environments and marketing, respectively. This knowledge exchange project will provide BAe systems with access to the wealth of experience in high resolution gamma-ray systems available at the University of Liverpool, while allowing Liverpool to become familiar with robust packaging and testing procedures allowing them to exploit academically developed instrumentation in a 'realistic working environment'. JCS bring key marketing experience to the project, allowing the technologies to be developed to suit future customer needs based on the outcomes of this project. The aim is that the system will be a modular solution for radiation detection that can be used in a wide variety of applications (for example nuclear assay for site clearance as well as the work to be carried out here). The requirement here is for the detection and imaging of gamma radiation that may arise on a nuclear submarine. This includes both gamma radiation from the reactor derived from fission products and actinides and gammas arising from neutron scattering and activation. The requirement is to cover the 60 keV to 10 MeV gamma-ray energy range and to have an imaging capability to identify the source of the radiation in the complex submarine environment. This is likely to require an image resolution in the 5 to 10 mm range. The instrument will able to identify specific radioactive isotopes making it possible to collect useful plant state information in real-time. Measurements will be made at several locations around the boat during HMS Astute's initial criticality. The proposed instrument will provide real data on the boat to allow BAe to develop a family of Resilient Gamma Spectrometers/Imagers that could be used for further trials on UK/US submarines and can be commercially exploited by John Caunt Scientific. The instrument will be designed for optimum efficiency to image gamma-ray emissions which are of interest in a submarine environment (60 keV / 10 MeV), but in principle the instrument could be used in other applications, in particular gamma-ray detection in crime and security situations following neutron interrogation. The nuclear physics group at the University of Liverpool has an outstanding record for experimental research into the structure of nuclei. This work is underpinned by the development of state-of-the-art instrumentation which supports this physics programme. The group are world leaders in the use of Germanium semiconductor sensors with digital readout systems. The Liverpool group is leading the characterisation of highly segmented germanium detector crystals for the Advanced Gamma-ray Tracking Project (AGATA). AGATA is a large European collaboration which aims to build the ultimate gamma-ray spectrometer for nuclear structure physics applications. Gamma-ray spectrometers that can exactly identify the isotope emitting the radiation have until recently used germanium as an active sensor.

EU’s Innovation Union Initiative underlines the importance of innovations in all sectors of the economy. For creating new innovations we need individuals that are capable to participate in diverse everyday innovation processes. One main problem is that universities don’t have proper tools to measure the development of the students’ innovation competencies during their studies. Therefore, we don’t actually know which teaching and learning methods are effective. Also companies are lacking tools and knowledge to assess these competencies in various settings: in recruitment processes and internal development activities. Unawareness of innovation competencies causes great economic losses for employers annually. The FINCODA project, with a significant number of universities and innovation-intensive companies from 5 countries, aims at providing solutions for a solid path for forthcoming innovators from university to companies. We shall test new forms of enhancing innovation competencies in university-company cooperation. Real-life learning environments bring added value for all stakeholders and lower the students’ threshold to enter the working life. As a main tangible output of the project we are creating and validating a Software Application tool for innovation competencies assessment. It will be available as an OER. We shall also illustrate that - especially when speaking about innovation competencies – well-organized and structured behaviour assessment can be at the same time cost-effective, reliable, valid and value adding, compared to traditional written tests. European-wide challenges demand multinational solutions. Investments to innovation competencies development gain positive impacts to the competitiveness of European companies. Joint European processes in assessment of learning outcomes are also one key aspect in the creation of a well-functioning European Higher Education Area. Main tangible outputs of the project, namely FINCODA Barometer Innovation Assessment Tool, the Software Application for online use of the FINCODA Barometer and the Online Rater Training Toolkit, are in the end of the project serving the purposes of Universities and companies in assessing students’ and staff members’ innovation capacity. These outputs are already used by the partners of the FINCODA project but – thanks to successful promotion – also by several organizations in Europe and even in other continents. It is foreseen that these outputs, which are also after the project available as Open Educational Resources, will gain added value for hundreds or thousands of organizations globally. FINCODA achieved a major class impact by influencing to the European Commission Higher Education policies. Several joint Innovation Competences workshops with EC officials reached its climax on May 2017 in Commission Staff Working Document to the Renewed EU Agenda for Higher Education; FINCODA Barometer was acknowledged as a promising approach in promoting entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation skills.

There is a need for inspection systems that are able to detect explosives (or drugs) hidden in for example luggage. These systems are most efficient if they can inspect the object without having to investigate by hand. e.g. a person does not have to search each piece of luggage or container. Explosives almost universally comprise hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen is different ratios. A system that will detect elements like these is based on sending a beam of neutrons into the system. The different elements will emit gamma rays of different energies which are unique to the isotopes concerned. These gamma rays can be measured accurately with a germanium gamma-ray detector and hence the amount of each element determined. This information can then be used to determined the ratios of the four elements and hence whether explosives (or drugs etc.) are present. By using modern technology the germanium detector can also be used to make an image of the object under investigate, similar to an airport baggage scanner. In this case the gamma-rays and scattered neutrons will be detected simultaneously to make a clearer image. By the end of the project we hope to have demonstrated in the laboratory that these ideas are effective and to determine the potential sensitivity.

There is a need for inspection systems that are able to detect explosives (or drugs) hidden in for example luggage. These systems are most efficient if they can inspect the object without having to investigate by hand. e.g. a person does not have to search each piece of luggage or container. Explosives almost universally comprise hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen is different ratios. A system that will detect elements like these is based on sending a beam of neutrons into the system. The different elements will emit gamma rays of different energies which are unique to the isotopes concerned. These gamma rays can be measured accurately with a germanium gamma-ray detector and hence the amount of each element determined. This information can then be used to determined the ratios of the four elements and hence whether explosives (or drugs etc.) are present. By using modern technology the germanium detector can also be used to make an image of the object under investigate, similar to an airport baggage scanner. In this case the gamma-rays and scattered neutrons will be detected simultaneously to make a clearer image. By the end of the project we hope to have demonstrated in the laboratory that these ideas are effective and to determine the potential sensitivity.