MoU Objectives

Category Objective
Challenge Develop and promote low-cost instruments and open-source hardware (OSH) capable of sensitive chemical analysis in specific areas and applications where the use of complex laboratory-based instrumentation is not the desired option
Research Coordination 1 To coordinate intersectoral, international and interdisciplinary studies in complex environments to test and validate OSH tools. This objective will involve citizen science initiatives (i.e. water quality in the The Venetian Lagoon and Irish loughs).
Research Coordination 2 To provide detailed reports on existing open-source hardware and their field of application and assess their limitations. this will be done by maintaining a database of open-source hardware, to present and demonstrate their fabrication (video tutorials) and to validate each instrument with interlaboratory studies.
Research Coordination 3 To identify the areas in need of significant scientific or technologic advancement.
Research Coordination 4 To stimulate the creation of new open-source hardware relevant to chemical analysis.
Capacity Building 1 To become a recognised Pan-European platform at the crossroads of SMEs, end-users, multidisciplinary analytical scientists, engineers and instrument manufacturers.
Capacity Building 2 To encourage research facilities and SMEs to use open-source hardware.
Capacity Building 3 To structure and develop small consortia able to apply or develop OSH via public-private partnerships and research and development proposals (H2020), leveraging further funds to build upon PortASAP initial objectives.
Capacity Building 4 To attract and facilitate the mobility and the multidisciplinary training among the different protagonists of the Action, during which attention will be drawn to maximise the benefits for all participants.

Grant Period Goals (GP1: 01/11/2017 – 30/04/2018)

# Description
1 To motivate Action participants in developing simple mobile phone-based spectrometers as Master projects. Design already exists as Open Source Hardware (https://publiclab.org/wiki/smartphone-spectrometer, https://spectralworkbench.org/, https://publiclab.org/wiki/smartphone-spectrometer)
2 To discuss the necessary architecture for an open data format allowing to share resulting spectra
3 To promote the portASAP Action in an EU context.
4 To train portASAP members in DIY chemical instrumentation and promote OSH in Universities and research facilities
5 To discuss and design simple sample treatment approaches that do not require expensive and/or toxic chemicals and may form the backbone for a new OSH.
6 To promote intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaborations within the COST Action

Grant Period Goals (GP2: 01/05/2018 – 30/04/2019)

# Description
1 Development of simple OSH analytical platforms for workshop/training school
2 Create an open repository for OSH related to the goals of the Action.
3 Create an open repository of experimental data from members of this COST Actionelectrophoresis instrument
4 Review of issues raised by a few portable, low-cost, easy to use and possibly OS hardware already tested and applied: selection of the population tested, users feedback (usability, robustness of tools/applications, ease of use, etc.), meaning of the data collected according to the tools and information provided
5 Investigation of New domains of application of current used hardware through field tests
6 Preparation of a review article related to open DIY capillary electrophoresis and related software
7 To identify and provide a blueprint for an open source capillary electrophoresis instrument
8 To organise and promote short-term scientific missions to improve the exchange of knowledge, promote long-term collaboration, build synergies and participate in the formation of a new generation of researchers
9 To help and coordinate the creation of consortiums for tackling specific issues relevant to the H2020 priorities lines
10 To provide information on funding opportunities, entrepreneurship and intellectual properties.
11 To promote Open Source Hardware as a reliable alternative to classical instruments

COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020

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