University of Warsaw confirms its top research potential

The project PhoQuS@UW submitted by the UW Faculty of Physics, received the highest score among eight Polish proposals that will receive support under the Regional Potential scheme of the 7th Framework Programme. The objective of the project is to strengthen the research potential in the rapidly developing fields of photonics and quantum science. The Faculty will receive nearly 5 mln EUR for equipment upgrades, hiring experienced researchers, and collaborations with leading European institutes.

The objective of the PhoQuS@UW Support Action funded through the Regional Potential scheme of the 7th Framework Programme is to establish the UW Faculty of Physics, as a multidisciplinary centre of excellence in Photonics and Quantum Science (PhoQuS). Photonics and Quantum Science are transforming 21st century science and engineering by delivering scientific and technological breakthroughs in areas as diverse as telecommunication, biomedical diagnostics, energy sources and environmental monitoring, as well as advance our understanding of nature by reaching extreme scales of size, time and intensity in light-matter interactions and exploring subtle quantum aspects of the microworld. UW is uniquely positioned to become one of European leaders in this rapidly developing field through exploiting its traditional excellence in theoretical and experimental physics to stimulate innovation-driven research assisted by recent major infrastructure upgrades co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund. PhoQuS@UW will help to unlock this potential with a set of coherent measures. Sustainable cooperation with twelve leading European research institutions in the PhoQuS area will be established by partner visits and secondments of UW staff. Experienced researchers in most promising fields such as biomedical optics, attoscience, environmental optics, quantum optics, and quantum metrology will be recruited to strengthen the human capital. Available infrastructure will be augmented by purchases of additional equipment to create new opportunities for experimental research. Innovation-stimulating mechanisms will be implemented in close collaboration with regional industrial stakeholders. A number of scientific conferences, workshops, and symposia will be organized to share state-of-the-art knowledge. All these activities will be complemented by events designed to raise public awareness of research and to encourage science and engineering careers.