CROSSING (Crossing borders and scales - an interdisciplinary approach)

With the CROSSING project, we aim to develop a strategic partnership between the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR, Germany) and Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI, Slovenia). The program covers state-of-the-art and interdisciplinary scientific projects. Several research fields are covered, illustrated by the number of actively participating institutes/departments (~10) of HZDR and JSI. Sharing of the research infrastructure and further development of main infrastructure facilities is an additional focus. Three “Young Investigator Groups” are established. As a contribution to the promotion of young talents in science, junior research group leaders gain leadership experience in their own research groups.

In parallel to the collaborative working flow within the four work packages, additional coordinated activities are taking place. These are connected with the various international initiatives and research projects, including (i) HZDR and JSI are collaborating in consortia among other international partners and (ii) CROSSING collaborators at HZDR or/and JSI are launching initiatives for specific international proposals and projects.

The CROSSING project work includes in-kind contributions of scientific and technical staff as well as sophisticated equipment, thus strengthening the collaboration between the institutes and departments of both research centers. In total, more than 15 FTEs are included in the core teams of CROSSING.
In addition to the scientific results (see WP-specific descriptions below), the scientific infrastructures are complementary used. In particular, this includes the Ion Beam Center and the Reactive Transport Laboratories at HZDR, as well as the Center for Microscopy and Microanalytics and the Nuclear Reactor at JSI, and the high-performance computing facilities at both sides.

Multiple joint publications and conference contributions as well as the granting of a joint European project in the field of Microbiology and Nanotechnology underscore the success of the CROSSING initiative.