Shared use of large-scale equipment

In an article for “DUZ”, Dr Ingeborg Lasser, Senior Consultant at CHE Consult, examines the profile-building and sustainable use of large-scale facilities.

According to the author, research-related large-scale facilities and technology platforms make an enormous contribution to the development of a university’s profile and the implementation of its overall research strategy – provided that transparent access options and effective organisation of research and operational processes are guaranteed. They are the basis for sustained excellence in research.

For example, the organisational form of a “core facility” is suitable for ensuring the efficient and effective use of laboratories and technologies: operations are organised centrally and the core facility can be booked and used by researchers from different areas. The potential benefits can be broadly grouped into three categories: financial benefits, positive impact on the quality and quantity of research, and strengthening of diverse communities.