The main objective of the Forum is to bring together the main partners for realising international laboratories in South East Europe combining capacity building with bringing nations together following the CERN model. Among them are designers of the projects, potential future users of the region, scientists and engineers from universities and national laboratories, representatives of industry, and of government agencies. In introductory presentations the importance of international cooperation for science and training in the region will be illuminated.

Two large projects from which the region could benefit particularly will be presented. Their concepts have been worked out by two groups of international experts and they are based on most modern technological developments enabling cutting-edge research in many domains relevant to society. One is a synchrotron light source providing radiation research possibilities in many domains from physics to biology, material science, environmental science and even archaeology and medicine. The users' community would come mainly from university faculties and also industry. The second project is a facility for cancer research and treatment with heavy particles (protons and carbon nuclei) which would also enable biomolecular research including experiments with small animals. For both facilities a number of options will be presented and it is hoped that the discussions will provide indications which choices would be most interesting for the region.

Training of scientists, engineers and technicians is considered to be important from the beginning. Since the realisation of these projects will require several years this time will be extensively used to train experts in order to build-up expertise, i.e. to form a sufficient critical mass of staff members for operation of the machines as well as to create users' communities. Thus these opportunities will be mainly for the benefit of the young generation although they will also serve to reverse the brain drain.

Since the general know-how and technology transfer will be of particular interest for the region several presentations will consider how this can be achieved in the most efficient way. Two special activities instigated by the projects may trigger developments for the whole region. This would be the development of powerful digital networks and large data handling necessary to transfer data from the central laboratory to the users. Setting up of such a network for oncologists might be of particular interest. Another activity reaching beyond the particular projects considered would be the installation of solar power panels to reduce the operating cost for electricity of the facilities, boosting the general development of alternative energy production in the region.

GRANTS: a limited number of grants are available to support the attendance of selected participants, with priority given to participants from the South East Europe. There is no registration fee.

Requests for contributions to the session "Short presentations of interest to participate in IIST (International Institute for Sustainable Technologies)", on 26 January morning, are invited to be made in the online form (comment section) indicating also the title of the contribution.

Visit to the Elettra synchrotron light source facility and the FERMI free electron laser facility in Trieste (afternoon of January 26): participants interested in the visit to the Elettra and Fermi facilties are also invited to indicate it in the online form (comment section).

DEADLINES FOR REQUESTING PARTICIPATION: 15 December 2017 (firm deadline if financial support is required)
14 January 2018 (if no financial support is required)

OUTCOME OF THE SELECTION: Applicants requesting financial support will be informed via individual e-mail/letter by 22 December.
Applicants not requesting financial support will be informed as soon as possible via individual e-mail/letter.

The ICTP will remain closed during Winter break from 23 December 2017 to 7 January 2018, inclusive.