Empowering Underground Laboratories Network Usage
EUL
 
PROGRAMME 2014-2020
priority
1 Innovation
objective
1.1 Research & innovation infrastructures

EUL

EUL helped to enlarge the use of underground laboratories and provide access to open resource for business and innovation.
Project summary

Several underground laboratories (ULs) in the Baltic Sea region remained under-utilised for many years, without taking advantage of the innovation and business potential. Unique scientific environment of these facilities was not fully exploited. Furthermore, the laboratories were operating separately, lacking specific standards for characterizing the ULs technically or in terms of quality of operations. The existing laboratories offered services primarily on a national level and targeted mostly scientific users, as they were initiated by nearby universities to support pure scientific research. Consequently, the provision of services to commercial users was not part of their initial concept. Opening up for businesses and transnational collaboration would therefore facilitate scientific technology transfer and exchange of best practices.

The extension phase project Empowering Underground Laboratories network usage (EUL) continued the work done by its forerunner Baltic Sea Underground Innovation Network (BSUIN). It supported enlargement of the user base of the ULs by analysing various marketing strategies and establishment of a sustainable network.

Budgets

EUL
in numbers
  • 0.79
    Million
    Total
  • 0.59
    Million
    Erdf
  • 0.04
    Million
    Eni + Russia
  • 0.00
    Million
    Norway

Achievements

Underground laboratories (ULs) are getting ready

Before the project EUL, not all participating underground laboratories had a customer relationship management process or designated contact persons. Thanks to the project, all the involved sites have a contact person responsible for handling questions and for the first steps in the customer relationship management process. The project tested and evaluated the customer journey directly with the underground laboratories (ULs) and their potential customers. The ULs discussed their experience together with other members of the network, created by the project BSUIN.

Living network

The project created the European Underground Laboratories Association (EUL), which is a registered non-profit association promoting science, research, technical development, innovation, education, and various events at members' underground laboratories. Thanks to this network, it is now easier to launch a research and innovation project in underground environments, which have the potential to provide answers to questions concerning geo-energy, geo-storage, environmental processes, and resources.

Outputs

Customer Journey and Customer Relationship Management (CMR) system requirements

The customer journey consists of five stages: awareness, consideration, acquisition, service, and loyalty. The used layers are: customer steps, underground laboratories (Uls) steps, critical points, and others involved. The customer journey map provides a structured, linear visualization of a service user’s experience and helps the service provider make their services more tangible and visible. The report is for the operators of ULs for their better understanding of how to manage relationships with their customers. At the same time, the report is also useful for customers of the ULs as the system enables them to receive relevant information and feedback.

EUL Innovation Platform and Web-based tool

The EUL Web-Based Tool uses four stage process from initial contact 1. Preparation to 2. Planning and proposals, 3. Project execution, and 4. Closure. The open dialogue between potential customers, EUL association and ULs helps to find the optimal locations and prevent any unforeseen show-stoppers (e.g. environmental, safety or financial risks), that could harm the planned activities.

Project Stories

Partners

University of Oulu (UO)

  • Town
    Nivala
  • Region
    Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
  • Country
    Finland
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
172,440.00
63.928953124.9612586

Oulu University of Applied Sciences (OUAS)

  • Town
    Oulu
  • Region
    Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
  • Country
    Finland
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
47,150.00
65.011873425.4716809

University of Silesia in Katowice (USK)

  • Town
    Katowice
  • Region
    Katowicki
  • Country
    Poland
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
50,000.00
50.259898719.0215852

Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB)

  • Town
    Solna
  • Region
    Stockholms län
  • Country
    Sweden
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
74,200.00
59.36136718.0013693

KGHM Cuprum Research & Development Centre Ltd. (CUPRUM)

  • Town
    Wrocław
  • Region
    Wrocławski
  • Country
    Poland
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
50,000.00
51.126310616.97819633051261

Technical University mining academy Freiberg (TUBAF)

  • Town
    Freiberg
  • Region
    Mittelsachsen
  • Country
    Germany
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
84,070.00
50.916941513.3428889

Helmholtz Centre Potsdam German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ

  • Town
    Potsdam
  • Region
    Potsdam, Kreisfreie Stadt
  • Country
    Germany
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
55,000.10
52.400930913.0591397

Vilnius University (VU)

  • Town
    Vilnius
  • Region
    Vilniaus apskritis
  • Country
    Lithuania
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
91,315.00
54.687045825.2829111

National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ)

  • Town
    Otwock
  • Region
    Warszawski wschodni
  • Country
    Poland
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
58,467.30
52.116166121.29345896133107

Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)

  • Town
    Tallinn
  • Region
    Põhja-Eesti
  • Country
    Estonia
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
28,000.00
59.437215524.7453688

Baltic Scientific Instruments (BSI)

  • Town
    Riga
  • Region
    RÄ«ga
  • Country
    Latvia
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
34,925.00
56.949397724.1051846

Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (KarRC RAS)

  • Town
    Petrozavodsk
  • Region
    Republic of Karelia
  • Country
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
35,590.00
61.78390134.44464792471686

Joint stock company 'Khlopin Radium Institute'

  • Town
    Saint Petersburg
  • Region
    City of St. Petersburg
  • Country
Approximate total partner budget in EUR
10,000.00
59.93873230.316229