About the R&D scheme

The R&D scheme is part of the Einstein Telescope valorization program for high-tech companies – a program of the National Growth Fund. The purpose of the scheme is to encourage innovation and accelerated development of new technologies for the Einstein Telescope. And in turn strengthening the candidacy for the arrival of the Einstein Telescope and the future earning potential of the Netherlands.

Minister Eppo Bruins of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science:

I have great expectations about the potential of the Einstein telescope. With world-class scientific infrastructure within our borders, all of Dutch science gets a boost. And the technology we are developing for the telescope will give Dutch tech companies a unique edge. In a few years, the resulting innovations may just become part of our daily lives. I want to be fully committed to being able to build the Einstein Telescope here in the coming years."

What does vibration damping entail?

The Einstein Telescope must be made many times more sensitive than all its predecessors. This will enable the observatory to observe gravitational waves from the entire visible universe. To achieve that, the researchers want to eliminate all possible forms of noise, such as ground motion and heat vibrations in the equipment. Within this field, specialized vibration damping is being developed that further isolates the core and auxiliary optics of the Einstein Telescope from the environment

Consortium SENVIDET: extremely sensitive acceleration sensors

The seven partners of the Sensor Engineering for Noise and Vibration Isolation and Damping in Einstein Telescope (SENVIDET) consortium are developing several sensors that will determine whether the Einstein Telescope's mirror suspension is deflecting due to slow, gradual movements of the surrounding rock. This presents a challenge, because sensors such as this exist primarily for fast motion, such as for applications in space. SENVIDET aims to determine anomalies below a billionth of a meter and billionth of an angular degree using, among other things, spillover effects between glass fibers and seismometers in the surrounding rock layer.

Lead engineer Jochem Klaassen of coordinator Lionite in Leiden:

This assignment is a real challenge because there is no still reference point on which to base your measurements: nothing on Earth is more still than the Einstein Telescope. This grant will enable us to develop technology beyond the state of the art. This will undoubtedly have applications in other industries, such as high-end manufacturing or the semiconductor industry."

Partners

Lionite (coordinator), DEMCON B.V., Innoseis B.V., Nikhef, Quantified Air B.V., Somni Solutions B.V., VSL B.V., TU Delft (associate partner).

Consortium ICVI: vibration damping of cryogenically cooled optics

The eight partners of the Improved Cold Vibration Isolation for science and industry (ICVI) project are jointly developing technology that cools the measurement setup to cryogenic temperatures without introducing new vibration sources. ICVI's cryogenic vibration isolation technology, for example, detects unwanted vibrations with free-floating, magnetic particles in superconducting traps. This creates a setup that is both very cold and hangs very still.

"The Netherlands has a rich history in extremely low temperatures. For a time, Leiden was known as the coldest place on earth," says CEO Max Kouwenhoven of coordinator Onnes Technologies in Leiden.

With ICVI, we are taking the next step in this tradition. This is interesting for science, but also for example for the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries."

"By continuing to invest in research, education and innovation, we can ensure that the Netherlands remains economically and technologically relevant. A major project like the Einstein Telescope offers our country much more than just an extraordinary scientific observatory."

Partners

Onnes Technologies B.V. (coordinator), Leiden University, JPE B.V., Nikhef, SRON, Piak Electronic Design B.V., Delft Circuits B.V., Magnetic Innovations B.V.

Other openings for the R&D scheme

"Currently there is an opening for the technology domain optics," says Jorg van der Meij, program manager from LIOF.

Currently there is an opening for the technology domain optics," says Jorg van der Meij, program manager from LIOF. "This will close September 12. Later this year, consortia can apply for the fields of thermal deformations and for vacuum technology. For more information, please refer to our website and we call on high-tech companies and knowledge institutions to make their interest known."