NICEST · Network for Integration of Comb Experimental Spectroscopic Techniques

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.

Project objective

NICEST is a Doctoral Network dedicated to advancing next-generation optical frequency comb spectroscopy to address pressing scientific and societal challenges in astrochemistry, atmospheric monitoring, and sustainable industrial processes. Molecular processes in gaseous environments govern phenomena ranging from interstellar chemistry to climate-relevant reactions and plasma-assisted manufacturing. Their accurate description requires high-resolution, broadband spectroscopic tools capable of detecting transient species with exceptional precision—capabilities that current instruments only partially achieve.NICEST brings together leading European groups in laser science, precision spectroscopy, molecular physics, plasma and combustion chemistry, and data science, complemented by major industrial partners. The network will train 11 Doctoral Candidates through an integrated program that links instrument development, high-accuracy reference measurements, and applications to complex chemical environments. The consortium will develop broadband, sensitive, and time-resolved spectrometers based on optical frequency combs, generate benchmark molecular data for species of atmospheric and astrophysical relevance, and apply these tools to plasma, combustion, and low-temperature reaction systems.The resulting instrumentation, datasets, and methodological advances will significantly enhance Europe’s capabilities in environmental monitoring, climate-relevant diagnostics, and analysis of astronomical spectra, while supporting innovation in clean technologies and decarbonization strategies. NICEST will form the first European cohort trained to deploy comb-based spectroscopy across scientific and industrial sectors, strengthening long-term skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and European scientific leadership in precision measurement.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisCoordinatorFrance
• ACADEMIA SINICA · TaipeiTaiwan
• BRUKER OPTIK GMBH · EttlingenCity levelGermany
• ESPACE DES SCIENCES · RennesCity levelFrance
• FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV · MunchenGermany
• Fundacja Candela · WarszawaPoland
• MENLO SYSTEMS GMBH · PLANEGG MARTINSRIEDGermany
• NIST · GaithersburgCity levelUnited States
• POLITECHNIKA WROCLAWSKA · WroclawPoland
• POLITECNICO DI MILANO · MilanoItaly
• RUHR-UNIVERSITAET BOCHUM · BochumGermany
• Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory · Cambridge, MaUnited States
• THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM · BirminghamUnited Kingdom
• Thorlabs Sweden AB · GöteborgCity levelSweden
• UMEA UNIVERSITET · UMEASweden
• UNIVERSITAT WIEN · WienAustria
• UNIVERSITE DE RENNES · RennesFrance
• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON · LondonUnited Kingdom
• UNIWERSYTET MIKOLAJA KOPERNIKA · TORUNPoland

Links

• View on CORDIS
• DOI: 10.3030/101311514