Proudly Announces Involvement in yet another major EU project

Project Overview

EXCITE is an ambitious multidisciplinary project aiming to provide state-of-the-art facilities and knowledge to researchers and industry in the realm of materials science. Specifically, the project will leverage cutting-edge X-ray and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging capabilities and a specialized nanoindentation laboratory. EXCITE² targets five main objectives:

1. Create a new generation of problem-solving researchers adept in utilizing state-of-the-art imaging technologies to directly address research and innovation challenges related to EU and global challenges. 
2. Complete the integration of the FAIR data principles into the research infrastructure, allowing users to fully utilise the potential of open science.
3. Transform the EXCITE² research infrastructure with cutting-edge technology such as digitalization and artificial intelligence to boost problem-solving abilities and provide innovative and efficient services.
4. Maximise the value of research and promote innovation by establishing strong partnerships with current EU research infrastructures and industrial collaborators while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the consortium (
5. Provide transnational access (TA) to world-class imaging facilities and expertise enabling problem-solving research and innovation 

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UiO's Role and Contributions

X-ray imaging technologies significantly affect European competitiveness within a wide range of research areas from material and device development to quality of life. The need to establish new and upgrade existing infrastructure is following the Norwegian Roadmap for Research Infrastructure. UiO is addressing these challenges nationally and offers access to state-of-the-art X-ray imaging infrastructure. UiO is a centre of expertise for academia and industry and is an access point for experiments and advanced training. UiO also has a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) that allows users access to a virtual computer with the software and processing power required to execute a successful TA access. The SEM Lab is part of the Goldschmidt Laboratory, the Norwegian national infrastructure for advanced characterisation of solid-Earth materials. It is regularly accessed by national and international users (about 25% of international users) working on a wide range of projects funded by e.g. H2020, ERC, Research Council of Norway (RCN), RCN Centre of Excellence. It is a key installation for the recently funded CO2Basalt project at UiO, which investigates the potential for storing CO₂ into basalts located offshore Norway, as well as for new projects investigating mineral deposits of critical raw materials in Norway. Services to industry and other clients and training of early-career researchers are other key areas of lab activity. In the framework of EXCITE², UiO will provide access to crystallographic, compositional, and hyperspectral cathodoluminescence analysis of Earth materials. The nanoindentation laboratory currently serves innovative applications of nanosciences in national and international projects on the mechanical properties of reservoir material for CO2 storage and of geo-inspired materials, as well as on creep of shales and fault rocks (geohazards). The Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) will offer users remote access to the most advanced data processing software, including Avizo, Dragonfly, Bruker Esprit, Bruker MicroCT (CTan, CTVox, NRecon), and Fiji.

UiO provides highly valuable and technologically advanced equipment and efficient support for researchers through highly skilled and full-time technical staff linked to each installation. This ensures that knowledge and competence in X-ray and SEM imaging and micromechanical testing will be available to tailor the measurement and analysis schemes to each specific research case. UiO will also provide open access for EXCITE² users to processing state-of-the-art X-ray and SEM imaging datasets through virtual desktop interfaces (VDIs), laboratory technical competence and scientific expertise. This allows researchers around the globe to collaborate more efficiently, thereby accelerating the pace of innovation.

Cutting-Edge Technologies and Support

UiO prides itself on its technologically advanced equipment and a high level of support for researchers. We have a dedicated, highly skilled, and full-time technical staff associated with each installation to tailor the measurement and analysis schemes to each specific research case.

The EXCITE project is a testament to the University of Oslo’s commitment to advancing the frontiers of science and fostering international collaboration. We are incredibly excited about the doors this will open for scientific research and its impact on academic and industrial communities.

We look forward to taking science to new heights through this collaboration!