Major steps have been taken to build the Einstein Telescope in the border area between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. This became clear during the fourth ministerial summit on this project last week. The Flemish government has already reserved 200 million for the project. In addition, Belgium and the Netherlands support the steps being taken in Germany to definitively reserve funds for constructing the Einstein Telescope there as well. Finally, it was announced at the summit that the first results of the drilling campaign yielded the preliminary conclusion that the subsoil in the border area of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany is sufficiently stable and offers opportunities to build the telescope.
That news encouraged the responsible ministers from North Rhine-Westphalia, Belgium, and the Netherlands to be optimistic during a conference on the underground telescope in Kerkrade last week.
Following elections and government formation in the Netherlands and Belgium, several new ministers are responsible for the Einstein Telescope project. From Wallonia, it is Minister Pierre-Yves Jeholet, from Flanders, Prime Minister Matthias Diependaele, and from the Netherlands, Minister Eppo Bruins, who was also the host.
Commitment in the three countries
After Minister Bruins in the Netherlands announced extra money for the Einstein Telescope on Prinsjesdag, Flanders is doing the same. Minister-President of Flanders Matthias Diependaele: “A strong commitment from all governments involved will enable us to bring this unique scientific infrastructure to the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. This is why the new Flemish government has already inscribed an initial reservation of 200 million euros in its budget.”
Moreover, Gonça Türkeli-Dehnert, State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Research of North Rhine-Westphalia, pledged an additional 7.9 million at the ministerial meeting. Together with previous financial reservations, more than one billion euros is now available for the Einstein Telescope.
Einstein Telescope: the groundbreaking project at the triple-border point
In the border region of South Limburg, a scientific project is on the threshold of a breakthrough. The Einstein Telescope, a hypersensitive detector for gravitational waves, is coming. Possibly in South Limburg.
Good strides for the Einstein Telescope have also been made 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. This is a necessary condition for a financial contribution. Ministers from the relevant German states as well as Dutch and Belgian ministers have indicated their support for this proposal.
Drilling for hard rock
An essential condition for constructing the Einstein Telescope is that the soil is suitable for it. To determine that, drilling to an average depth of 300 meters was carried out at eleven locations in the border region of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Not all the analyses have been done yet, but at the ministerial meeting, it was announced that the first preliminary conclusions look good. The subsurface was found to consist of harder rock layers than initially assumed. This is favorable for building an underground research infrastructure. TNO’s geological service has independently verified the analyzed data from the borings.
Minister Eppo Bruins (Education, Culture, and Science) responds elated: “Together, we are another step closer to the Einstein Telescope in our border region. The Flemish investment is excellent news, and Germany is also taking steps. Moreover, the first results of the soil drilling give the plan more solidity. Together, with the Einstein Telescope, we can really give a major boost to science, society, and the economy in our countries.”
Incidentally, this drilling campaign and the data collected do not yet say exactly where the three vertices for the underground telescope will be located. Further geological research is needed for that. In addition, seismic research must show that the area is sufficiently noise-free to allow the telescope to measure gravitational waves optimally. Furthermore, civil engineering research must show how the construction of underground tunnels and vertices is possible. In addition, environmental impact studies will help determine the most suitable location.
Gravity waves
With the Einstein Telescope, an underground triangle of giant tubes, scientists can measure gravitational waves, as is currently impossible. This will allow us to learn more about the origins of the universe. A top scientific instrument like the Einstein Telescope is of great value to science, economy, and society. Studies show that every euro invested will pay for itself twice over, and thousands of additional jobs are expected to be created in the border area of the three countries, both for scientists and professionals in construction, maintenance, and hospitality.
The decision on where to build the Einstein Telescope will be made in 2026. The border areas of Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium are in the race together. Sardinia is a competitor. The Netherlands has 58 million for preparation and a reservation of 870 million for construction.
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