ELI ERIC

On 30 April 2021, the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) was granted the legal status of European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) by the European Commission. ELI ERIC will provide access to world-class high power and ultra-fast lasers for science and enable cutting-edge research in physical, chemical, materials, and medical sciences, as well as breakthrough technological innovations.

The ERIC is a specific legal form designed to facilitate the establishment and operation of Research Infrastructures of European interest. ERICs are participated by States and international organisations as members. As a main statutory mission, ELI ERIC is responsible for making the ELI Facilities available to the scientific community as a single international organisation, with unified governance and management.

The Czech Republic hosts the ELI ERIC statutory seat in Dolní Břežany, in the South of Prague, at the ELI Beamlines Facility. A second Facility, ELI ALPS, is hosted by Hungary in Szeged. The Czech Republic and Hungary are joined by Italy and Lithuania as Founding Members, Bulgaria transitions to be a full Member as of 1 January 2025, while Germany holds an Observer status. A third ELI Facility is operating in Romania which was accepted as a Founding Observer in ELI ERIC from 1 January 2024. 

                                                       

The ELI ERIC is tasked with enabling scientists to access the state-of-the-art lasers at the ELI Facilities. Access is open for all scientists and based on proposals evaluated by an independent panel.

The decision by the European Commission and the ERIC statutes from 2021 are publicly available in the EU Official Journal.

The most recent amendments to the ELI ERIC Statutes came into effect on 18 October 2023, and the consolidated amended version is available for preview HERE.

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Key policies and other documents

ELI ERIC Gender Equality Plan (2022-2025)

Information on the protection of whistleblowers 

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General Assembly and Appointed Representatives

On 16 June 2021, the first General Assembly of ELI ERIC was held with delegates and experts from each member and observer country. Allen Weeks, former Director General of ELI DC (Delivery Consortium, an international non-profit association that supported the coordinated implementation of the ELI research facilities) was appointed the Director General of ELI ERIC. The Chair of the General Assembly is Jan Hrušák.

                                                                                                  
                                                                                 Allen Weeks                                                    Jan Hrušák
                                                                   Director General of ELI ERIC                      Chair of the General Assembly

Delegates and Experts of the General Assembly