In a collaborative effort, the central government is joining forces with the Province of Limburg and the Dutch Research Council (NWO) to work closely with German and Belgian partners. This initiative aims to host the Einstein Telescope, the largest scientific construction endeavor to date, in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine border area. As part of these efforts, the Einstein Telescope Netherlands (ET-NL) has been established to coordinate and propel the project forward in the Netherland.
Minister Bruins announced an additional investment of 16 million euros into the project, which includes a contribution of 4.3 million euros from the Province of Limburg. The Dutch government has also earmarked a substantial 870 million euros from the Growth Fund for building the telescope.
Moreover, the region has seen a surge in educational initiatives in anticipation of the telescope’s arrival, such as the Einstein Telescope Education Centre (ETEC) at the Discovery Museum in Kerkrade and the upcoming Einstein Academy, which will focus on enhancing technical and scientific education to prepare students for opportunities with the Einstein Telescope.
The coming years are crucial, as the Netherlands aims to strengthen its bid and secure its position as the host for this groundbreaking scientific instrument.
Read more about the received grants for Einstein Telescope:
https://vu.nl/en/news/2024/nwo-grant-for-development-of-innovative-technologies-einstein-telescope
https://vu.nl/en/news/2024/1-375m-award-for-einstein-telescope-led-by-conor-mow-lowry
https://vu.nl/en/news/2024/development-of-vibration-free-cooling-technology-einstein-telescope