Outsourcing Supply. The main technologies outsourced are vacuum systems, magnets, RF, electronics and power supplies, with challenging areas including RF cavities, magnets and thermal cooling. The key problem from the National Laboratory perspective is a lack of internal skilled staff resource. Where the Supply Chain is weak or very limited, this drives the National Laboratories to develop the expertise in-house as they cannot afford to lose access to the capability. • There are a range of technologies that can move towards standardisation across the full range of accelerator types: – Power supplies / High level RF / vacuum / cryogenic infrastructure / electronics / instrument components. • These technologies will lend themselves to some system of ‘type approval’. A combination of this and standardisation in design across most accelerators will strengthen the Supply Chain, reduce costs and increase reliability. • Technologies that are likely to remain bespoke to individual systems include: – low level RF / magnets / cryo-systems / specialist engineering. • Some current areas of technology innovation highlighted were the move to solid state amplifiers because of their high reliability / low maintenance, and the adoption of permanent magnets for lower lifetime costs.
Outsourcing Supply. From the commercial perspective, it is desirable that all mature subsystems and components to be outsourced to Industry. Industry also believes that the National Laboratories should outsource the majority of their maintenance needs as this provides a commercial platform for companies to plan their business continuity. However, highly specialised technologies / capabilities not likely to be widely adopted, or that can be used across several departments within the Institute should be kept in-house. By working closely with companies on new technologies and systems, the National Laboratories can help the companies to upskill their capabilities and people to meet future wider Industry needs. Most companies would like a balanced, cooperative relationship with the National Laboratories. They believe a more open approach will be more effective. It needs judgement and an “Open Innovation” approach.
