Major steps have been taken to build the Einstein Telescope in the border area of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. This became clear during the fourth ministerial summit on this project. The Flemish government is already reserving 200 million for the project. In addition, Belgium and the Netherlands are supporting the steps being taken in Germany to also definitively reserve money for the construction of the Einstein Telescope there. Finally, it was announced during the summit that the first results of the drilling campaign provide the preliminary conclusion that the subsurface in the border area of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany is sufficiently stable and offers possibilities for building the telescope.
Newcomers
That news caused great optimism among the responsible ministers from North Rhine-Westphalia, Belgium and the Netherlands during the conference in Kerkrade about the underground telescope.
After elections and government formation in the Netherlands and Belgium, a number of new ministers are responsible for the Einstein Telescope project in the Netherlands and Belgium. From Wallonia that is Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet, in Flanders that is Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele and from the Netherlands Minister Eppo Bruins, who was also the host.
Commitment in the three countries
After Minister Bruins announced extra money for the Einstein Telescope on Budget Day in the Netherlands, Flanders is now doing the same.
Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele:
A strong commitment from all the governments involved will enable us to actually bring this unique scientific infrastructure to the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. That is why the new Flemish government has already included an initial reservation of 200 million euros in its budget.
Furthermore, Gonça Türkeli-Dehnert, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Research of North Rhine-Westphalia, pledged an additional 7.9 million during the ministerial meeting today. That is good news. Together with the previous financial reserves, a total of more than one billion euros is now available for the Einstein Telescope.
Good steps have also been taken for the Einstein Telescope at the federal level in Germany. An application is pending there to get the Einstein Telescope on the German priority list for large scientific infrastructures. That is a necessary condition for a financial contribution. Both ministers of the German states involved and the Dutch and Belgian ministers have indicated that they support this proposal.
Good drilling: hard rocks favourable
An important condition for the construction of the Einstein Telescope is that the soil is suitable for it. To determine this, drilling was carried out at eleven locations in the border area of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany to an average depth of 300 metres. Not all analyses have been carried out yet, but it was announced today that the first preliminary conclusions look good. It has been shown that the subsurface consists of harder rock layers than was initially assumed. This is favourable for building an underground research infrastructure. The analysed data from the drillings have been independently verified by the geological service of TNO.
Minister Eppo Bruins (Education, Culture and Science) reacts enthusiastically:
Together we have really taken another step towards the Einstein Telescope in our border region. The Flemish investment is very good news and Germany is also taking steps. Moreover, the first results of the ground drilling give the plan more solidity, literally and figuratively. And that is good news. Together we can really give a big boost to science, society and economy in our countries with the Einstein Telescope.
This drilling campaign and the collected data do not yet say anything about the exact location of the three corner points for the underground telescope. Further geological research is required for this. In addition, seismic research must demonstrate that the area is sufficiently noise-free to allow the telescope to optimally measure gravitational waves. Furthermore, civil engineering research must show how the construction of the underground tunnels and corner points is possible. In addition, research into the environmental effects also determines the most suitable location.
Einstein Telescope of great value
With the Einstein Telescope, an underground triangle of gigantic tubes, scientists can measure gravitational waves, which is not yet possible. This allows us to learn more about the origin of the universe. A top scientific instrument such as the Einstein Telescope is of great value to science, the economy and society. Studies show that every euro invested is more than recouped, and thousands of additional jobs are expected to be created in the border area of the three countries. Both for scientists and professionals in the fields of construction, maintenance and hospitality.
The decision on where the Einstein Telescope will be built will be made in 2026. The border area of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium is in the race together. The Netherlands has 58 million for the preparation and a reservation of 870 million for the construction.
