News item | 11-02-2025 | 09:00
The Netherlands is fully in the race to be able to build the Einstein Telescope. Today, the province of Limburg, science financier NWO and the central government are taking an important step forward to bring in the largest scientific construction project ever together with partners in Germany and Belgium: the establishment of Einstein Telescope Nederland (ET-NL). ET-NL will play a coordinating and driving role between all parties in the Netherlands who are working on the arrival of the telescope in the Euregio Maas-Rijn (EMR, border region in South Limburg).
Today it is also known who will staff the ET-NL. Sjoerd Sjoerdsma has been appointed as CEO of ET-NL. As an experienced Member of Parliament and former diplomat, he brings the political-administrative experience to connect and hunt nationally and internationally. Sjoerdsma grew up in Limburg and looks forward to delivering the best Bidbook, the project proposal, for the Einstein Telescope together with all involved.
Sjoerd Sjoerdsma: “The Einstein Telescope is a scientific miracle and will be a big boost for the economy of the Netherlands and the Limburg economy in particular. I am proud that I can lead the team that will do everything in its power to get the Einstein Telescope here. ”
The second person who starts today at the newly established network organization is Stan Bentvelsen. As Chief Science Officer (CSO) he becomes responsible for the scientific part of the Bidbook. A crucial role, because with this instrument we are going beyond the limits of what is scientifically possible now. Bentvelsen is an internationally prominent physicist who, as director of Nikhef and as the scientific director of the Einstein Telescope EMR project office, has also formed the basis of the assignment to bring this telescope to the border area of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. He will give a logical follow -up to that in his new role.
Stan Bentvelsen: “The Einstein Telescope will serve our image and our knowledge of the universe in the coming decades. This telescope is scientifically really revolutionary and groundbreaking and the whole world benefits from that. We are going to do everything we can to build that instrument in the Maas-Rijn Euregion. “
The establishment of the organization is part of the extra investment of 16 million euros, of which 4.2 million of the province of Limburg, who already announced Minister Bruins (Education, Culture and Science) on Prinsjesdag.
Minister Bruins: “The Einstein Telescope is going to become a delivery room of new science that not only leads to new discoveries about the universe, but can also yield a lot of new technology that will change our lives. The next two years are crucial to make our plan as promising as we can. This requires a lot of work, from the design of this technical feat, to the lobbying to get support for our plans. I have a lot of faith in these people and in the race to bring that telescope to our border region. ”
National priority
In several places in Europe, countries are working on a good proposal to be able to build the Einstein Telescope. Italy is also in the race and the Netherlands, together with partners from Belgium and Germany. The Netherlands has a reservation of 870 million euros ready for the construction of the telescope from the growth fund. In order to underline how important the telescope is for science, society and our economy, the government declared a national priority to bring in the telescope last November.
What is the Einstein Telescope
The Einstein Telescope is not a telescope like many people know. It is an underground triangle of large tubes, in which laser beams are fired and then reflected with mirrors. By measuring those rays very precisely you can detect gravitational waves from the room. This allows scientists to learn new things about our universe and for the first time test the theory of relativity of Einstein. A lot of new knowledge is needed to develop the telescope and it stimulates technological innovations and activity. Various affiliated European countries are expected to decide at the end of 2026 where the telescope can be built. The precise date on which the project proposal must be handed in is not yet known.
A telescope of this size is not only a boost for science, but also attracts many scientists from all over the world. Based on research, it is expected that every euro for the Einstein Telescope will be recovered 3 to 4 times and the telescope will immediately and indirectly create 2000 jobs. Not only for scientists, but also for, for example, practically trained technicians. The preparations for the telescope in the region has also stimulated various educational initiatives. Examples of this are the Einstein Telescope Education Center (ETEC), situated in the Discovery Museum in Kerkrade, and the future Einstein Academy, where MBO students and HBO students are trained who can work after their studies at or around the Einstein Telescope .