Breakthrough Innovation Programme for a Pan-European Detection and Imaging Eco-System – Phase-2

Informations projet

ATTRACT2

N° de convention de subvention: 101004462

DOI

10.3030/101004462

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 15 Mars 2021

Date de début 1 Février 2021

Date de fin 31 Juillet 2025

Financé au titre de

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Research Infrastructures

Coût total

€ 35 000 000,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 35 000 000,00

Coordonné par

ORGANISATION EUROPEENNE POUR LA RECHERCHE NUCLEAIRE
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - ATTRACT2 (Breakthrough Innovation Programme for a Pan-European Detection and Imaging Eco-System – Phase-2)

Période du rapport: 2024-02-01 au 2025-07-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

What was the problem or issue addressed? The ATTRACT2 project addressed the long-standing challenge of translating breakthrough technologies originating from basic scientific research into market-ready innovations. Deep-tech developments are typically characterised by long development cycles, high uncertainty, and significant barriers to commercialisation. ATTRACT2 set out to design, implement, and validate an innovation ecosystem capable of accelerating this transition from fundamental research to real-world societal and economic impact.

What was the importance for society? Deep technologies often require many years before they can generate new markets, businesses, and societal benefits. ATTRACT2 demonstrated that this timeline can be significantly shortened through a structured innovation ecosystem based on co-innovation.
What were the overall objectives and outcomes?

Building on the success of Phase 1, ATTRACT2 focused on funding and advancing the most promising and validated breakthrough technology concepts, selected for their strong scientific, industrial, and societal potential. The project also expanded opportunities for young entrepreneurs and delivered a first-of-its-kind socioeconomic study.

The ATTRACT Consortium used public funding strategically to lower the intrinsic risks associated with breakthrough technologies as they progressed along the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), enabling a smoother transition to private investment and market uptake.

Risk mitigation was implemented in two complementary phases:

Risk absorption (ATTRACT Phase 1): approximately TRLs 1–4

Risk reduction (ATTRACT Phase 2): approximately TRLs 4–7

By the time technologies reached around TRL 7, they had been sufficiently de-risked through public funding to become attractive to private investors. At this stage, ATTRACT2 concluded, having successfully paved the way for the commercialisation of new products and services delivering tangible benefits to society.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

The ATTRACT initiative was designed to transform scientific breakthroughs in imaging, detection, and computational technologies into commercially viable products and services for industrial markets. Its overarching ambition was to bridge the gap between frontier research and real-world applications, strengthening Europe’s deep-tech innovation capacity.

Following the launch of an open call for breakthrough ideas in 2018, the most promising concepts were selected and further developed under ATTRACT2. This second phase focused on advancing proof-of-concept technologies toward clearly defined scientific and industrial applications, while simultaneously fostering the creation of new businesses, products, and services with direct societal value. A strong emphasis was placed on ecosystem-building activities, including connections between funded projects, student researchers, and potential investors, in order to maximise the societal and economic impact of the supported technologies. By the conclusion of ATTRACT2, the supported projects were positioned to transition from public funding to private investment, contributing to Europe’s role as a leading hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship.

By the end of the project, ATTRACT2 had delivered the following tangible results:

18 funded deep-tech projects that reached, or were on the verge of reaching, Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 7–8.

Full deployment of the ATTRACT Academy, benefiting more than 700 young European innovators.

Eight comprehensive socioeconomic studies analysing multiple dimensions of the ATTRACT innovation ecosystem.

Comprehensive information about the initiative, including project details and outcomes, is available on the ATTRACT website.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

Key elements of the ATTRACT2 deep-tech acceleration ecosystem

The ATTRACT2 project successfully leveraged three complementary pillars to create and validate a novel ecosystem for accelerating deep-tech innovation.

1. Phased approach to funding

2. Co-innovation between research and industry

3. Young Innovators projects

ATTRACT2 integrated interdisciplinary MSc-level student teams—referred to as Young Innovators—into funded R&D&I projects, where they worked alongside professional researchers from academia and industry.

These teams applied design thinking methodologies to prototype technology-driven solutions inspired by ATTRACT-funded developments, with a specific focus on addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This model enhanced skills development, entrepreneurial awareness, and societal relevance while reinforcing the project’s long-term impact.

Impact achieved across three dimensions

Together, these three action lines delivered measurable impact across scientific, societal, and economic domains.

Scientific and technological impacts

Delivery of new technologies made available to research infrastructures and universities for both basic and applied research.

Increased return on investment from public and private research facilities through improved alignment and coordinated use of advanced equipment.

Enhanced knowledge exchange between research infrastructures, universities, and European industry, strengthening the business case for sustained scientific collaboration.

Societal impacts

Deployment of detection and imaging products and services addressing concrete societal challenges.

Improved visibility of the societal value generated by taxpayer-funded research.

Increased awareness of, and tangible contributions to, sustainability objectives through student-led projects aligned with the UN SDGs.

Strengthened regional and national public–private research collaborations, contributing to reduced outward mobility of young research and entrepreneurial talent.

Economic impacts

Increased willingness among private investors to support breakthrough technologies originating in Europe.

Development and rollout of European-based products and services achieving global market uptake.

Enhanced international competitiveness of European industry in the fields of detection and imaging.

Increased inward mobility of researchers attracted by high-quality R&D environments.

Retention of research capacity within Europe.

Strengthening of the European Research Area (ERA) through improved alignment of national research strategies.

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