Lasers4EU is incorporating the major laser research infrastructures, in a large number of European member states, into a comprehensive virtual distributed laser research infrastructure that is offering to a broad user community, from academia and industry, access to an exceptional portfolio of technical and scientific capabilities. This unique set of instruments together with the specific scientific expertise at the host facilities allows Lasers4EU users to carry out high-level research in an extremely wide range of high-impact topics in life sciences, materials nano-processing, etc. Laser technology has experienced remarkable advances and breakthroughs and is now a key innovation driver for highly diversified societal applications and products, thereby substantially contributing to economic growth and to solving challenges in the areas of health, environment and energy. Through its strategic approach, Lasers4EU aims to strengthen Europe’s leading position and competitiveness. It facilitates long-term coordination of the laser research activities within the European Research Area and provides concerted and efficient services to scientific, industrial and medical researchers. The main objectives of Lasers4EU are to: • provide coordinated access to high-quality services based on a coherent and comprehensive consortium of 27 leading European laser installations offering to users from academia as well as from industry cutting-edge performances at the forefront of the laser technologies, • structure the European landscape of laser Research Infrastructure through enhanced access, extended geographical coverage, novel science diplomacy activities, improved synergies with other European networks and projects, • increase European human resources in the field of laser science by implementing training activities towards researchers from new domains of science and technology and from geographical regions where laser communities are still less developed.

Plasma accelerators driven by advanced laser sources and/or compact electron linacs are key components for the next generation of green and sustainable research infrastructures. We propose a project on the development of "Plasma Accelerator systems for Compact Research Infrastructures" (PACRI), which will develop highly important and ground-breaking plasma accelerator technologies for Europe's future research infrastructures (RI). The specific objectives of PACRI are: - The development of high repetition rate plasma modules, as required for the EuPRAXIA ESFRI project, capable of extending its scientific scope from high average brightness radiation sources to high energy physics. - Improving the performance of normal conducting accelerator technology for X-band linacs, paving the way for high repetition rate operation (up to kHz) with a focus on efficiency and power consumption. - The development of key laser components required to scale up high power, high repetition rate laser technology as required by the EuPRAXIA and ELI ESFRI research infrastructures. The achievement of the PACRI objectives will enable the production of unique particle and photon beams with a wide range of applications in ultrafast science, high precision medical imaging, materials diagnostics, medical treatment and, in the longer term, the development of future compact colliders. These developments will be used for future resource-efficient upgrades of existing RIs at INFN, Elettra, CERN, CNR, CNRS, DESY, ELI, GSI/FAIR and UKRI. In addition, PACRI will support the implementation of ESFRI's EuPRAXIA distributed research facility by consolidating its sites and centres of excellence being developed under the ongoing EuPRAXIA_PP project. It will fund the development of some technical prototypes that are crucial for the implementation of the EuPRAXIA project and other European Research Infrastructures (e.g. enabling major upgrades to the ELI-Beamlines facility).

STRATOLASER aims to strengthen the protection of EU space infrastructure by developing a breakthrough, cost-effective active debris removal system based on the de-orbiting of space debris ranging from a few centimeters to several tens of centimeters in size, using direct laser ablation technology fired from a stratospheric balloon. By eliminating atmospheric attenuation and scattering of the laser beam, the system drastically reduces the laser's power requirements, while offering a much lower cost, maintenance capacity, greater versatility, and wider orbital access compared to spaceborne solutions. This project will conduct the first experimental campaign to demonstrate proof-of-concept for stratospheric laser-ablative debris removal, achieving TRL 4 and establishing foundational technology. Using two stratospheric balloons—one with a debris fragment and the other with a small-scale pulsed laser and relay mirrors—experiments will monitor ablation under varied distances. Additional tests will involve laser scanning on orbital debris, focusing on signal return without reaching the ablation threshold due to power constraints. Complementary lab work will optimize the laser for stratospheric conditions, enhance UV conversion, and explore scalability. Mission analysis will evaluate post-ablation trajectories, aiming for a €2.5K cost per debris object removed.

The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) is the world’s most advanced laser user facility. It is among Europe’s important new international research infrastructures, an ESFRI Landmark. More than €850M was invested at three facilities in Central Europe, using European Regional Development Funds. The ELI facilities will merge to efficiently integrate and secure the sustainability of that investment. They will transition to operations as a single European Research Infrastructure Consortium. This IMPULSE, funded by a significant EU contribution, will bring resources and the experience of leading European laser facilities to bear to accelerate the transition to the operational phase and enhance sustainability. They will identify opportunities for technical synergies across Europe’s leading high-power, short-pulse laser centres. Developing best practices together to support the user experience, the project consortium will mitigate the risk of operating state-of-the-art, high-power, high repetition laser systems. They will develop the technologies contributing the most to that risk, and position ELI as a global platform for high-power laser development, driving innovation in the field. Together the partners will implement standards and practices supporting excellence and consistent quality for the users. The IMPULSE will scientifically demonstrate the performance and potential of each of the ELI facilities early in the operational program. An extensive analysis of the scientific community that can exploit ELI and other laser facilities will be carried out together with Laserlab Europe. That will be supported with extensive outreach activities to anchor the success of ELI’s scientific program with a broad community.

LASERLAB-EUROPE is the European consortium of major national laser research infrastructures, covering advanced laser science and applications in most domains of research and technology, with particular emphasis on areas with high industrial and social impact, such as bio- and nanophotonics, material analyses, biology and medicine. Recently the field of advanced lasers has experienced remarkable advances and breakthroughs in laser technologies and novel applications. Laser technology is a key innovation driver for highly varied applications and products in many areas of modern society, thereby substantially contributing to economic growth. Through its strategic approach, LASERLAB-EUROPE aims to strengthen Europe’s leading position and competitiveness in this key area. It facilitates the coordination of laser research activities within the European Research Area by integrating major facilities in most European member states with a long-term perspective and providing concerted and efficient services to researchers in science and industry. The main objectives of LASERLAB-EUROPE are to: • promote, in a coordinated way and on a European scale, the use of advanced lasers and laser-based technologies for research and innovation, • serve a cross-disciplinary user community, from academia as well as from industry, by providing access to a comprehensive set of advanced key laser research installations, • increase the European basis of human resources in the field of lasers by training new users, including users in new domains of science and technology and from geographical regions of Europe where laser user communities are still less developed, • improve human and technical resources through technology exchange and sharing of expertise among laser experts and operators across Europe, and through coordinated Joint Research Activities enabling world-class research, innovations and applications beyond the present state-of-the-art.