News
PERIIA General Assembly discusses the future of the Network
The Forth PERIIA General Assembly was held virtually on 21 November 2023. The forum discussed the activities of the Network and marked steps for its further development.
The PERIIA Board members reported about the work already done and upcoming activities included in the Network’s work programme 2023-2024 focusing on the webinars for exchange of experience and good practice among the ILOs and capacity building, relationship with EC and EIROForum, communication strategy and upgrading of the website.
The participants were informed about the current status of the Ukrainian initiative on the replacement of scientific equipment/instruments lost during the war in the research laboratories of Kharkiv and the support of the non-profit association RI Logistica in the process.
A presentation dedicated to the main novelties of BSBF2024 that will take place from 1st to 4th October 2024 in Trieste, updated the forum on the current and upcoming calls, plenary and parallel sessions, exhibition, and special initiatives such as Women in Big Science.
The topics concerning PERIIA legal status and PERIIA membership were also discussed. An association type structure was proposed as the most adequate (and the lightest) and it was agreed to present a summary of all the options at the next PERIIA General Assembly in Trieste. The participants also agreed that PERIIA is open free of charge to all active European ILOs. The membership is obtained through an application procedure available on the PERIIA website.
The forum concluded with a panel debate with Big Science ILOs network chairs about the Consolidation of a Big Science Common Market.
It was stated that long-term vision and advanced information could be useful in the consolidation process, helping companies to get prepared. Also it was pointed out that national ILO networks have to be stable in terms of funding and resources as industry needs stability in the market, reliable partners and continuity in terms of procurement. The ILOs play an important role in this and can provide long-term vision and synergies among facilities - not only in EU but also worldwide.
PERIIA webinar reveals the profile of the “good ILO”
What are the most important skills a “good ILO” should possess? How to obtain them? What are the RIs expectations from the ILOs? And what kind of support do the ILOs need? These were the most important issues discussed during the first PERIIA webinar dedicated to “The role and skills of Big Science ILOs”. It took place on 31 August 2023.
Nikolaj Zangenberg, an ILO for Denmark from the Danish Technological Institute presented the Big Science ILOs and their role - an analysis based on a survey of the EU project ENRIITC. Sylvia Wojtowicz, an ILO for Poland from the Polish National Centre for Nuclear Research shared some findings of the ENRIITC project on the necessary skills of the ILOs and their training needs.
As a representative of the research facilities, Cristina Lara, Head of the Procurement service at CERN discussed the technical and behavioural competencies the ILOs should possess.
Cristina pointed out that “A “good ILO” is an active ILO that acts on behalf of the industry he/she represents” and emphasized the importance of the initial training of the ILOs.
The webinar ended up with a panel debate on various types of support the ILOs need to fulfil their mission.
The first donation under the PERIIA’s ILO Ukraine Initiative
The receipt of the first donation under the PERIIA’s ILO Ukraine Initiative is already a fact. It came from Utrecht University and arrived successfully with the support of RI.Logistica - thanks to the aid of 4PL Central Station Nordic AB, who managed the equipment's transportation to Lund and ensured its safe delivery by ESS Logistics staff.
The ILO Ukraine Initiative started in September 2022 by the PERIIA network where the RI.Logistica Association provided the logistical solution. The Initiative will support RIs in Ukraine by replacing equipment that was stolen or damaged during the ongoing war, and also meeting the magnitude needed to be transported.
The initiative is open to all the organisations that would like to become part of it. More about the donation process is available in RI.Logistica’s Guidelines. The Equipment list shows what equipment is needed in Ukraine. The list is not exhaustive, so if you have equipment that you would like to donate, but it is not on the list, please do not hesitate to contact RI.Logistica
