On December 11, participants of the DarkWave project met with representatives of the European Commission and an external reviewer to deliver the final presentation of the project and receive its overall assessment.
The initial part of the meeting provided a comprehensive overview of the project, setting the stage for a more in-depth exploration of its various components. Then each Work Package (WP) leaders presented the results of their efforts and discussed plans for the future. This detailed examination began with a presentation on WP3, focusing on the DarkSide-20k construction. Paolo Agnes (GSSI), Marek Walczak (AstroCeNT/NCAC), and Maria Adriana Sabia (AstroCeNT/NCAC) offered a comprehensive overview, stimulating valuable discussions.
Subsequently, the agenda delved into WP5, addressing Scale-up and synergies, with Marcin Kuźniak (AstroCeNT/NCAC), Mariusz Suchenek (AstroCeNT/NCAC), and Andreas Leonhardt (TUM) as key speakers. Critical aspects of the project, including Analysis and Simulation (WP2, speaker – Davide Franco (APC/CNRS)), Novel SiPM development (WP4, speakers – Manuel Rolo (INFN, Torino) and Masayuki Wada (AstroCeNT/NCAC)), were covered in subsequent presentations.
Following a break, our Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation activities, were addressed by Yuliya Hoika (AstroCeNT/NCAC), Marcin Kuźniak, and Mariusz Suchenek. The later part of the meeting focused on administrative and financial management.
We are still waiting for the final feedback on the meeting from the EC, but words of support and encouragement, questions and sincere interest shown during the meeting allowed us to see the project from the outside, and in a very positive perspective.
As AstroCeNT leader Leszek Roszkowski said in his closing remarks, we have achieved a lot in three years, but the most important thing is yet to come. Good start that we owe to DarkWave should serve as a basis for future achievements. We are determined to continue this journey, fueled by dedication and the spirit of cooperation.