The next strategic ET in EMR meeting will be held in Liège on 19 April 2023 !

ET Industrial Advisory Board Meeting
on 18 April 2023
at the Fraunhofer Institute for Lasertechnology (ILT) in Aachen!

Agenda and registration: https://www.etest-emr.eu/industrial-advisory-board-iab/

13.03.2023

Vice-President EC Frans Timmermans: “Euroregion has excellent opportunity with the Einstein Telescope”

“With the Einstein Telescope, [Dutch] Limburg and this Euregio have gold in their hands. The facilities and the environment for scientists here are excellent and the infrastructure is good. I am very impressed with the Einstein Telescope and will support this region from Europe. There is global demand for this technology. Even the ET Pathfinder is already a unique piece of science worldwide.”

With that statement, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans concluded his visit to the Einstein Telescope test facility ET Pathfinder and the Dutch project office for Einstein Telescope on Friday 10 March. Frans Timmermans was among the guests in Maastricht at the invitation of the Dutch Province of Limburg. Here, he was updated on the status and planning of the telescope and guests were given an explanation about the ET Pathfinder.

Perspective for future generations

Director Guido Derks of the Dutch project office for Einstein Telescope used the map of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine to show how much this is an international, cross-border initiative, where Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany must jointly come up with a convincing bid book. He also pointed out that the Einstein Telescope is not only of great scientific value, but also provides prospects for future generations in economic and social terms. In addition, Derks said he hopes that even more European countries will join the Einstein Telescope initiative. Any attention to this from the European Commission could help, Frans Timmermans was told.

Magic of gravitational wave research

Stefan Hild, professor of experimental physics at Maastricht University and project leader of the ET Pathfinder, spoke about the ‘magic’ of gravitational wave research and its importance for science. He outlined how the research work for the test stand ET Pathfinder is laying a solid foundation for the Einstein Telescope. Meanwhile, 25 universities from seven countries are collaborating within the ET Pathfinder. There is also a lot of interest from Japan and the United States.

Using examples, PhD student Zeb van Ranst illustrated that, in the future, the Einstein Telescope will yield new technologies that can also be used outside the scientific field.

Mementos from the soil

Frans Timmermans, who hails from Heerlen in Dutch Limburg, was given an original memento to take back to Brussels when he bid farewell to Governor Emile Roemer of the Dutch province: a bell jar containing a cross-section of the region’s soil structure. Geologist Bjorn Vink, who works from Nikhef for the Einstein Telescope project office, had compiled this regional ‘cocktail’ of soil samples taken from previous drilling to a depth of 251 metres at Terziet and Cottessen.

Flanders visiting

Later in the day, a Flemish delegation was a guest at the Einstein Telescope project office. At the invitation of Dutch deputy Stephan Satijn, Belgian-Limburg governor Jos Lantmeesters, vice-rector Ken Haenen of Hasselt University and director Noel Slangen of POM-Limburg, among others, had come to Maastricht. Again, director Guido Derks explained the cross-border cooperation, which is the basis for presenting a strong bid book in a few years’ time. He mentioned the economic and social opportunities that the arrival of the Einstein Telescope will bring. University lecturer Gideon Koekoek of Maastricht University took the company into that magical world of scientific opportunities and challenges.

Image: Province of Limburg / Aron Nijs

Written by Gieljan de Vries

08.03.2023

GRE-Liège is now involved in the Einstein telescope

The GRE-Liège has redefined its missions, has renewed its authorities and has seen its new General Director take office.

The purpose of the GRE Liège is to determine the common strategic orientations of Liège’s development and to identify the major structuring and metropolitan projects.

GRE-Liège will now be involved in the Einstein Telescope.

Image: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gre-liege_liegecap2030-triplea-emplois-activity-7039335845685788672-4-aT?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

28.02.2023

Academic network discusses Einstein Telescope progress in Aachen

Nineteen universities and knowledge institutions in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany want to cooperate even more closely on preparations for the underground observatory Einstein Telescope. In this way, they want to build a strong proposal to host the future Einstein Telescope in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, the border region of the three countries. That is the outcome of a meeting at RWTH Aachen on February, 15th.

“Einstein Telescope is not only a new window into the universe,” argued RWTH Aachen professor Achim Stahl in his opening presentation to the network of knowledge partners for Einstein Telescope. “This observatory also offers a unique opportunity to engage students and companies in science. So, it is very important that we join hands as knowledge institutions to bring Einstein Telescope to the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.”

Coordination

The knowledge coalition for Einstein Telescope started in 2018 with the aim of strengthening cooperation in preparation for the observatory. This involves R&D for the Einstein Telescope and joint work on a strong proposal to establish the Einstein Telescope in the border region. Since then, great strides have been made in terms of joint research and cooperation with industry and governments.

During their meeting, the rectors and scientific experts of the participating institutions discussed intensified coordination within the consortium. Closer coordination fits in with the recent creation of a task force with representatives from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, in which the involved governments share information in order to work towards a strong, joint bid for the Einstein Telescope from the three countries.

Matchmaking

The knowledge coalition also sees opportunities to work more closely together, for example on the engineering and sustainability aspects of Einstein Telescope’s construction and operation. Thus, matchmaking sessions for researchers who want to participate in the preparations of Einstein Telescope were discussed.

Besides discussion on joint R&D, participants were given information on ongoing geological and planning feasibility studies in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. They also discussed the various consultation structures in which European researchers and governments discuss which site will eventually be assigned the Einstein Telescope. European governments are expected to make that decision in 2025.

Members of the Dutch-Belgian-German knowledge coalition for Einstein Telescope

Nikhef, KU Leuven, Universiteit Maastricht, Universiteit Genk, Universiteit Hasselt, RWTH Aachen University, UC Louvain, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universiteit Antwerpen, Université de Liège, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Universität Hamburg, Université de Mons, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Max-Planck Institut für Gravitationsphysik – Albert Einstein Institut, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Ruhr Universität Bochum.

Image: ET-EMR / Gieljan de Vries

Written by Gieljan de Vries

23.02.2023

Einstein Telescope: no more permits for wind turbines to be issued for the time being

An important directive has just been issued to give the Belgian bid for the Einstein Telescope project a fair chance. No more permits will be issued for wind turbines until we are sure that both are compatible.

More information: https://www.sudinfo.be/id622461/article/2023-02-23/telescope-einstein-plus-aucun-permis-pour-des-eoliennes-ne-sera-delivre-pour

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annick-pierrard_sud-presse-23022023-activity-7034515963664302080-4FHM?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

17.02.2023

Annick Pierrard presented the ET related projects during theWoman in Science event organized in Hasselt on 17/02/2023

Image: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/blockchain4prosumers_expertise-advice-woman-activity-7032364215457730560-L_zL?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

16.02.2023

Unanimous support for Einstein Telescope from Belgian ministers for science

In a meeting on 13 February, all Belgian science policy ministers expressed their support for the Einstein Telescope project. In their statement they advocated investing in this project with its high “payback” effects.

The Einstein Telescope will be a world-class European research facility to capture gravitational waves from the distant universe and learn more about processes from the creation of black holes to conditions shortly after the Big Bang.

At the so-called Interministerial Science Policy Conference (IMCWB), Flemish Science and Innovation Minister Brouns made an ardent plea to host the Einstein Telescope in the Meuse-Rhine Euregio, the border region of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In this, he was followed by all other Belgian science policy ministers, including from the federal state secretary Thomas Dermine and by colleagues Willy Borsus from the Walloon Region, Barbara Trachte from the Brussels-Capital Region and Valérie Glatigny from the Federation-Wallonia-Brussels.

Besides the scientific importance of Einstein Telescope, Brouns also underlined the opportunities for the region in form of strengthening the economy and innovation in the host area. In addition to Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, Italy is therefore also interested in hosting the research facility. The countries are currently preparing bid books with the qualities of their regions. European ministers are expected to decide on the location of Einstein Telescope in 2025.

Image: Department of Economy, Science & Innovation

Written by Gieljan de Vries

16.02.2023

Flanders installs Einstein Telescope steering committee

At a meeting in Genk on 13 February, Flemish Minister for Science and Innovation Jo Brouns established a Flemish Steering Group for Einstein Telescope. With this steering group, the Flemish government wants to bundle and streamline existing activities to deliver a strong bid book for Einstein Telescope in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, the border region of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

The underground Einstein Telescope will be a world-class European research facility, with which researchers aim to capture gravitational waves from the distant universe to learn more about processes from the creation of black holes to conditions shortly after the Big Bang.

Einstein Telescope offers opportunities, minister Brouns stressed in the presence of rectors of Flemish universities and research institutes, concerned captains of industry and policymakers, among others: “[The border region] is one of the few places in the world that has the opportunity to host the new CERN.”

According to Minister Brouns, the Einstein Telescope offers opportunities to strengthen both research, education and economy in the host region. “In addition to a scientific added value that can hardly be estimated today, the huge economic boom in our region should also be paramount. With a steering committee in which we gather all the expertise – scientific, policy and industrial – we guarantee the best future for this enormous process.”

Written by Gieljan de Vries

Photo: Einsteintelescope.nl

Date: Wednesday, 15.02.2023, from 1:30 till 5:30 pm
Location: Abbaye du Val-Dieu, Val-Dieu 227, 4880 Aubel, Belgium

Workshop n° 1:

Life Cycle Assessment
of Groundwater

Renewebility of freshwater can only be assessed at a local (regional) scale. Water consumption should not be confused with water production or withdrawals.

Globally, about 30% of the available and renewable freshwaters are ‘used’ while less than 15% are actually ‘consumed’.

Water shortage are due to the uneven spatial and temporal distributions of freshwater conjugated to inadequate local management.

Water issues are not only quantity problem but also quality problem. Groundwater reserves are 77 x surface-water reserves.

Rigorous LCA analysis and water footprint assessments remain challenging.

13.02.2023

Site Preparation Board for Einstein Telescope meets in Maastricht

From 23 to 25 January 2023, experts from across Europe met in the Dutch city of Maastricht to discuss preparations for the Einstein Telescope. Their meeting covered topics from soil surveys and noise measurements to technical designs and legal aspects of the construction of this groundbreaking observatory for gravitational waves.

Observatory

The Einstein Telescope will be a world-class underground observatory to measure gravitational waves. Those invisible ripples in the fabric of the space are a revolutionary new way to study our universe. Gravitational waves provide information that cannot be seen with ‘standard’ telescopes, which primarily look at electromagnetic waves such as ordinary visible light .

In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, researchers, companies and governments are working together to make the strongest possible bid book to host Einstein Telescope in the border region of the three countries. In addition to this Euregio Meuse-Rhine, Italy’s Sardinia is also considering a candidature.

European level

In order to coordinate the various activities around the future observatory and arrive at unified specifications, work on the Einstein Telescope is ongoing at the European level. “We want to make sure that in Europe we cooperate as much as possible to prepare the Einstein Telescope,” said professor Andreas Freise at the start of the workshop in Maastricht. Freise (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Nikhef) became European project director of the international Einstein Telescope collaboration in 2022.

The workshop covered topics from soil studies and work on a tunnelling requirements package, to studies on planning and legal aspects. The participants – 40 live and 30 online – shared information about the different candidate sites and made plans for follow-up studies.

Co-organiser Frank Linde (Nikhef) looks back on the meeting with satisfaction: “It is important that – as with the previous workshop in Sardinia – experts in the field of geology and civil engineering were present again. Those are precisely the people that we need in order to get an objective picture of the qualities of the various sites that want to host the Einstein Telescope.”

Written by Gieljan de Vries

Photo: Einsteintelescope.nl

06.02.2023

Flemish-Dutch summit: intensified cooperation on Einstein Telescope

During the biennial Dutch-Flemish Summit, held on 31 January in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (NL), the Einstein Telescope and the candidacy of the Belgian-Dutch-German border region for this observatory were major topics of discussion at the highest political level. Flemish Economy Minister Jo Brouns and his Dutch counterpart, Minister Micky Adriaansens (Economic Affairs and Climate) discussed developments in this area.

Also at the closing dinner, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister Dennis Wiersma (Education, Culture and Science) mentioned the Einstein Telescope as one of the important major projects for the future. The Dutch minister Robbert Dijkgraaf (OCW), who is particularly committed to the Einstein Telescope from a science and education perspective, had obligations in the Lower House and could therefore not attend the summit.

In the joint final declaration on all topics of the Dutch-Flemish summit, the Einstein Telescope gets a lot of attention. Very specifically, Flanders announces in it that it has taken the initiative to make further agreements in Brussels this spring about joining forces and efforts in the field of valorisation, communication, environment-oriented activities and expanding the number of European countries participating in the Einstein Telescope.

The final statement reiterates that the border region of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany is an ideal environment to build the advanced observatory for gravitational waves. Here, European scientists and companies can then build the future with the most accurate detector for gravitational waves ever developed. This border region offers the right geological environment for this. In addition, an ecosystem of knowledge institutions and high-tech companies is a strong asset.

The ministers welcomed the establishment of the international working group with ministers in the tri-border region of the Einstein Telescope, as agreed at the international roundtable organised by North Rhine-Westphalia in late 2022. As a follow-up, Flanders has now taken the initiative to invite the partners to Brussels in spring 2023 to further intensify efforts in a number of areas.

Written by Gieljan de Vries

Photo: Einsteintelescope.nl

23.01.2023

E-TEST and ET2SMEs were presented at the launch conference of the Interreg Meuse-Rhine 2021-2027 programme

Today at ULiège-RISE, the launch conference of the Interreg Meuse-Rhine 2021-2027 programme on the theme of Innovation was held, in the presence of high quality speakers such as Minister Willy Borsus, Mrs Pascale Delcomminette, Mrs Anne-Sophie Nyssen, Mr Guillaume Boutin, Mr Luc van den Hove, Mr Jean-Francois Delaigle, and masterly coordinated by Axel Noel & Cristina JORS from Liège Interreg Meuse-Rhine – Regional Office

Cross-border collaboration & innovation is something we have known for 30 years at ULiège RISE.

A special thank you to our Flemish, Dutch and German partners present with us tonight in Liège.

Image: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annick-pierrard_programme-interreg-meuse-activity-7023428237074554880-acFW?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

20.01.2023

Sustainability important issue in development of Einstein Telescope

A working group from Nikhef, Maastricht University and other institutions is investigating sustainability aspects of the Einstein Telescope. Their analysis ranges from preparations and construction to the operational phase and the aftercare phase when the observatory is no longer in use.

The research process identifies knowledge gaps. The insights and concrete results of that research, in which various disciplines are involved, will also receive attention in the bid book, where a chapter will be devoted to the way in which sustainability is applied. That bid book must be ready in 2025.

Circular

The working group is considering questions such as which sustainable materials can be used in the construction of the Einstein Telescope. And in what way can the construction of the Einstein Telescope boost the circular economy in a broad sense?

In addition to sustainability in relation to the environment and economy, the working group is also paying attention, for example, to sustainable tourism in the cross-border region (Euregio Meuse-Rhine). This is based on the assumption that the Einstein Telescope will soon attract new tourists.

Co-creation

Nicole Rijkens-Klomp of the Maastricht Sustainability Institute of Maastricht University and Rob van der Meer of Nikhef are leading the working group. The project is being carried out in co-creation with other faculties within the university and with experts from knowledge institutions and organizations working on sustainability issues.

Nicole Rijkens: “It is good that there is a focus on sustainability from the beginning. We started very broadly with the theme of sustainability based on the question of what the arrival of the telescope means for the environment, the economy and people.” Topics covered include soil, nature and what it means for those living in the vicinity of where the telescope will eventually be built. “All those questions we then discuss for local, regional, national and international levels. We look not only at the sustainability effects of the Einstein Telescope, but also at the potential for sustainability: there are quite a few knobs we can turn to make the telescope as sustainable as possible.”

Timeframe

Rob van der Meer cautions that the outcomes and recommendations of the working group cannot be expected tomorrow or the day after: “We cannot perfectly predict the future sustainability of the telescope. There are still quite a few questions about its exact impact. The Einstein Telescope involves a project with a time span of about 100 years from construction to a telescope no longer operational. When you make such a leap in time, it is also important to think about future changes that will affect the region and the telescope. After all, the world will not stand still.”

Sustainability is one of the topics being investigated within the Einstein Telescope Technologies (ETT) project. This project is being implemented within the OPZuid 2014-2020 programme and has been made possible partly through funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the State and the Province of Limburg under REACT-EU.

Written by Gieljan de Vries

Photo: Einsteintelescope.nl

20.01.2023

Government North Rhein-Westphalia wants to support Einstein Telescope

The government of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia announces financial support for Einstein Telescope in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, the border region of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. It also calls on the government in Berlin to get behind the project.

In a written report (pdf, German), North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Culture and Science Ina Brandes (CDU) announced that the state government will make a financial contribution when the Einstein Telescope enters the realization phase. A central condition for this is a corresponding commitment from the federal government in Berlin.

Brandes made the announcement in a letter to the science committee of the Landtag, announcing the establishment of a cross-border Task Force Einstein Telescope. Its concrete composition is currently being worked out with partners from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Housing

The Einstein Telescope will be a pioneering European measurement facility for gravitational waves, a new way of observing the universe. Currently, besides the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, Italy’s Sardinia is also interested in hosting the instrument.

The decision on the final location of Einstein Telescope is expected to be taken by European governments in 2025. Researchers, companies and authorities in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine are currently working on a so-called bid book underlining the region’s qualification.

Photo:

Landtag North Rhein-Westphalia. Copyright: Landtag NRW / Bernd Schälte

Written by Gieljan de Vries

13.01.2023

Brussels network meeting gets an Einstein Telescope theme

The Einstein Telescope was in the spotlight during a networking meeting of the Dutch Province of Limburg in Brussels on 10 January.

Every six months, the Dutch Province of Limburg organises a networking meeting in Brussels “for everyone with an affinity for Limburg”, as provincial governor Emile Roemer opened the evening.

Roemer, in Brussels for talks with Belgian partners and administrators, stressed in his speech the need for cross-border cooperation on topics of common interest. As an appealing example, The Einstein Telescope project had been chosen as the evening’s theme.

“If we cooperate with our neighbouring countries, we can bring the top scientific project Einstein Telescope to our border region,” the governor said in his speech. “That is a fantastic opportunity for science as well as for the people in the region.” The construction and operation of Einstein Telescope would create all kinds of jobs and give the border region support to further grow into one of Europe’s leading knowledge regions.

Written by Gieljan de Vries

Photo: Einsteintelescope.nl

10.01.2023

Einstein Telescope presents progress in Brussels

On 10 January, researchers, companies and government representatives met at research funder FWO in Brussels to discuss the progress of the Einstein Telescope project in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

Einstein Telescope is alive and well in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, a meeting on the pioneering observatory in Brussels showed. More than 40 representatives from knowledge institutions, national and regional governments, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine and development companies from the three countries updated each other on progress in the project on 10 January.

After a word of welcome by host Hans Plets, project leader for Einstein Telescope in Flanders, Dutch quartermasters Guido Derks and Stan Bentvelsen gave a review of the steps taken over the past year within the project. They also outlined the steps towards a joint bid book for the Einstein Telescope in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

Besides a plenary part, there were also parallel sessions on R&D and perspectives for cooperation with industry, planning and geological research, and cross-border communication with partners and residents in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. The overall conclusion of the progress day by Hans Plets: “this will be the year of joining hands to make a strong bid book together to host Einstein Telescope in our three countries!”

Written by Gieljan de Vries

Photo: Einsteintelescope.nl

19.12.2022

Province of Limburg (NL): ban on wind turbines in search and protection area Einstein Telescope

The Dutch Limburg Parliament (Provincial Council of Dutch Limburg) will not allow the construction or licensing of wind turbines, mining and excavation in the search and protection area of the Einstein Telescope and in a 10-kilometre zone around it. This decision was taken to eliminate risks of ground noise and thus optimally protect the competitiveness of this site for the observatory.

With this decision, the board and politicians endorse the May 2022 letter from the Dutch research institute Nikhef, which asked not to allow any developments that could potentially cause additional ground noise in the deeper layers where Einstein Telescope will be built.

The proposal to amend the provincial regulations for this purpose received an overwhelming majority in the Limburg parliament.

An additional motion was also passed stating that the Einstein Telescope should not be adversely affected in any way by existing or new wind turbines. The same motion called to search for alternatives to achieve regional energy goals.

Photo: Aron Nijs

Written by Gieljan de Vries

13.12.2022

Space research in the border triangle: task force for Einstein telescope launched

NRW state government brings together representatives from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

State government brings together representatives from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Following the invitation of Europe Minister Nathanael Liminski, key political players and scientific representatives from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany met for the first time on Tuesday, 13 December 2022, at the “Einstein Telescope Round Table” in Bonn. Together, the participants expressed their support for the realisation of the Einstein telescope in the border triangle. The Einstein telescope could create a project of top-level research with international appeal in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. The third-generation gravitational wave detector would make it possible to study black holes and investigate the time after the Big Bang in more detail.

“The Einstein telescope offers great scientific and economic potential that would benefit the people in the region and strengthen North Rhine-Westphalia as a business location,” emphasises Europe Minister Liminski. “With its strong science and research landscape, the large number of companies with expertise in the high-tech sector and the support of the neighbouring states and regions, the “Dreiländereck” offers ideal conditions for the implementation of this cutting-edge research project. Cross-border, we would send a signal that Europe has the claim to be one of the world’s leading regions for basic research.”

The participants of the round table in Bonn exchanged views on scientific developments, the advantages of the border triangle as a location and the opportunities that the Einstein telescope offers the region. Belgium, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia are already jointly funding numerous projects in preparation for the Einstein telescope. For example, funding has been provided for a prototype of the Einstein telescope, for geological studies to identify the site and for the support of technology-driven companies.

In order to create all the necessary conditions for an application of the border triangle as a location, the participating countries and regions have decided to set up a “Taskforce Einstein Telescope”. This task force will bring together representatives of all the bodies involved to pool information and identify and prepare further steps for the region’s application.

18.10.2022

Einstein Telescope EMR: work in progress

During a session in Maastricht on 18 October 2022, representatives of knowledge institutions, government and development companies were updated on the progress towards Einstein Telescope EMR.

At the invitation of Stan Bentvelsen and Guido Derks of the Dutch project group for Einstein Telescope EMR, more than forty representatives of knowledge institutions, national governments, provinces, regions, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, universities and business development companies from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany came to Maastricht on October 18th. All these partners in the project told what steps they have now taken towards the joint bid book for the Einstein Telescope Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

The general conclusion was that much work has already been done, but also that the necessary challenges still await in the coming period. The greatest common denominator between all those different disciplines: the conviction that in some time there will be a rock-solid proposition that will ensure that the Einstein Telescope is built in the border region of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

22.09.2022

Trucks conduct geological survey for Einstein Telescope

This September, three trucks are driving slowly through the Heuvelland and Voerstreek regions. These trucks are used to carry out geological research for the Einstein Telescope.

The Einstein Telescope requires a quiet environment to be able to take good measurements and will be realised at a depth of 200 to 300 metres. Previous studies have shown that the subsurface of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine seems quiet enough for the Einstein Telescope. But a better understanding of other factors and a larger area is needed. That is why three trucks are driving through the region to conduct precise subsurface measurements. Every 10 metres, these trucks lower a vibrating plate. Sensors along the route measure the effects of this to accurately map the structure of the subsurface.

The trucks drive between ‘s Gravenvoeren and Euverem, from Margraten to Henri-Chapelle and between Neufchâteau and Sippenaeken. To avoid nuisance in sensitive areas, such as villages or near badger setts, the measurements in these areas are restricted or no measurements are carried out here at all.

16.09.2022

SAVE THE DATE! The joint Einstein Telescope Industrial Advisory Board for the EMR site meets again on the 10.11.2022 at ULiège RISE!

We are happy to invite you to the next joint Industrial Advisory Board of the Einstein Telescope community. The meeting is open to all who are interested in the ET in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. . For further details and registration to the event please click here.

The Einstein telescope and preparation projects as E-TEST, ETpathfinder and ET2SMEs are pushing the technology beyond the current state of the art in many areas, both for the prototype of interferometer and for geological investigation of the subsurface. 

As part of E-TEST, we have established an ET Industrial Advisory Board ( ET IAB) to facilitate close collaboration with various industrial partners, both SMEs and large companies active in the fields of activities required by the ET, from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

We have the pleasure to announce that it will be organized face-to-face, at the ULiège RISE, Avenue Pré Aily, 4, 4031 Angleur (Liège), Belgium.

Agenda

Registration & Welcome coffee from 9:30 am

10:00 am- 12:00 am – Welcome and general session

Welcome – by Annick Pierrard, ULiège RISE, BE

• joint ET IAB: WHY / WHO / HOW / WHEN

Short project presentations & latest achievements of the preparatory projects:

• Einstein Telescope (ET) project by Prof. Andreas Freise, VU University Amsterdam and Nikhef, NL
• E-TEST : Einstein Telescope Site and Technology – 01.02.2020 – 31.12.2023:
  • Mirror prototype by Prof. Christophe Collette, PML ULiège, BE
  • Site underground study by Prof. Fréderic Nguyen, UEE ULiège, BE
• ET Science Projects: ETpathfinder, R&D Laboratory (03.06.2019 – 02.12.2022), ETT (NL, 01.05.2021 – 31.12.2023)by Rob van der Meer, Nikhef, NL
• ET-PP (INFRADEV Call Horizon 2020; 01.07.2022 – 30.06.2026), by Rob van der Meer, Nikhef, NL
• ET2SMEs – 01.03.2021 – 31.12.2023 “Maximising the economic & social impact of the possible implementation of ET in EMR” by Ralf Meyer, Agit, DE
• New project submission in Call 2 Interreg NWE: ET sustainability, by Annick Pierrard, ULiège RISE, BE

11:40 am – Preparation of the next steps:

• ET investment, return on investment, ESFRI time line
• What is needed for the ET BidBook submission in 2024?
• What will influence the final site decision by ESFRI in 2025?
• How to make he joint ET IAB a sustainable structure after the preparatory projects end?

12:00 pm – 13:30 pm – Lunch

13:30 am – 13:45 pm – Separation into 3 sub-working groups in different meeting rooms

13:45 am – 16:00 pm – Interactive industrial/scientist Prototype, Geology & Sustainability Working Groups led by the ET Technology Sheets Scientific Responsibles, with the participation of ET2SMEs business developers, based on the technologies requested by the Einstein Telescope.

Companies have the floor to pitch their technology/service. Please send this 5 minutes pitch to Annick Pierrard prior to the event: a.pierrard@uliege.be

1. ET INSTRUMENTS: Cryogenics, Vacuum, Precision mechanics & mechatronics, Sensors, Advanced control algorithms, Mirrors coating, Lasers, Optics & optical metrology
2. GEOLOGY/ CIVIL ENGINEERING: Geophysical imaging and remote sensing, Water technology, Tunneling technology, Simulation and modeling
3. ET SUSTAINABILITY: Carbon neutrality, sustainable construction, resources valorization/recycling

16:00 pm – Drink!

End of the joint ET IAB

Closing of the registration on Tuesday November 8 2022 at 16H00.

E-TEST prototype design report

26.08.2022

Mrs Annick Pierrard , senior international project manager at ULiège RISE (Research │ Innovation │ Support │ Enterprises), has been appointed as the Representative of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation Universities in the Einstein telescope Task Force set up by the Walloon Region.

The composition of the Walloon ET Task Force is the following:

One representative of the Minister of Research,
One representative of the Minister for the Economy,
One representative of the Minister-President,
One representative of the Minister for Scientific Research,
One representative of each of the MECATECH and SKYWIN clusters,
One representative of WBI (Wallonie-Bruxelles international)
One representative of the Universities of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation
One representative of the SPW-Research (Service Public de Wallonie – Recherche)

The Walloon ET Task Force, set up by the ministerial Cabinets ,will work on a Walloon action plan to ensure a strong bidbook for the Einstein telescope in Euregio Meuse-Rhin (BE/NL/DE border region ) in 2024, the highest involvement from now one of the Walloon enterprises and the best return for regional researchers and companies.

This new mission of Mrs Annick Pierrard is in addition to the one of general coordinator of E-TEST, and her active involvement as business developer in ET2SMEs , two of the preparatory projects for the Einstein telescope in Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

01.08.2022

ET2SMEs starts next Call for Vouchers!

On the first of August the next Call for Applications opened. Working and developing technologies around the Einstein Telescope? Apply now.

Further informations (opens in new tab)

19.07.2022

Einstein telescope in the NRW coalition agreement

The North Rhine-Westphalian state government will commit itself to the Einstein Telescope in the border region with Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. To this end, it will also lobby for financial support from the federal government in Germany. The political parties CDU and Grüne have included this commitment in the coalition agreement they presented in June.

This step formalises the support of the NRW government and strengthens the case for the Einstein Telescope in the border region, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. It builds on the unanimous support announced by the NRW state parliament in November 2020.

Germany has already invested in the Einstein Telescope at state and federal level. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Climate Protection and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia is co-financing the Einstein Telescope-related projects E-TEST and ET2SMEs. And the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding work on the technological aspects of the next generation of gravitational wave detectors.

Further links (german language):

• Volltext des Koalitionsvertrags (Website der Grünen, öffnet in neuem Fenster)
• Newsmeldung November 2020: NRW-Landtag unterstützt Einstein-Teleskop einstimmig
• Pressemeldung Juli 2020: BMBF-Förderung für die Vorbereitung des Einstein-Teleskops
• Projektwebsite ET2SMEs (öffnet in neuem Fenster)

18.07.2022

Where Einstein Telescope meets optical fibre research

Between October 2021 and March 2022, a 250-metre-deep hole with a diameter of 10 cm was drilled near Cottessen. Its main purpose? To investigate the structure of the subsurface, and whether it would be quiet enough for the Einstein Telescope. To this end, a vibration sensor was placed at a depth of 250 metres. But when Nikhef-researcher Frank Linde met Rob Jansen of TNO, they came up with something else: this narrow well also offered the chance to test whether they could use a fibre optic cable as a sensor over its entire length. This sensor could measure temperature, deformation and vibrations. And this technology, in turn, can be useful for all kinds of applications.

Fibre optic cables are mainly used for telecom purposes. Rob Jansen however, is one of the people investigating other applications. Together with other research institutes and companies of the European project SLAM-DAST, he studies how they can use the cable itself as a sensor. Preferably a sensor that measures vibrations as well as temperature and deformation over its entire length. At this location, Jansens’s team focuses on vibrations.

“The sensor that was placed earlier, measures vibration at a depth of 250 metres. But we wanted to hang a fibre optic cable in the pipe, and see if we could measure vibrations every 3 metres.” Jansen explains. “This gives you much more insight into the various soil layers. Because every type of soil has a different effect on the transmission and reflection of vibrations. This technique is already being used in the oil and gas industry to make pictures of the subsurface. The application in Cottessen is unique. No oil or gas is produced here and it is a very quiet and peaceful location. We therefore hoped to achieve very low signal-to-noise levels here.”

Installing the cable
The installation of the fibre optic cable was not an easy task. First, two 198-metre cables that were connected at the bottom were hung in the tube. After this, the well was filled up with cement. This prevents water from reaching the sensors, which could interfere with the measurements. “The big unknown was how good the coupling of the fibre to the cement would be,” says Jansen. They didn’t know that beforehand.

First measurements
Fortunately, the coupling was good and the researchers could take the first measurements in March. The well turned out to be a good test location. As expected, there was much less noise in the well than in the lab and you could clearly see the effect of depth. The deeper the cable, the lower the signal-to noise level. They were also able to determine the deformation of the cable in the well. For instance, after cementing, about 60% less light passed through the cable and it was also deformed at a certain point. But the cause of this – a weak spot in the cement and in the pipe – was known and there is enough optic signal left to work with.

“These first tests,” says Jansen, “have given us a good insight into the current status of the well and can be considered as baseline measurements. When we take new measurements, we will be able to monitor any further deformation. As a result of subsidence for example, or further hardening of the cement.”

The researchers are also waiting for the results of the vibration sensor at the bottom of the narrow well. “We would like to compare the vibrations of the fibre optic cable to the vibrations of that sensor. It serves as a reference point. If you make this comparison, you can model pretty well which amplitudes and frequencies you can measure with the fibre optic cable.”

Possible applications of fibre optic sensing technology
The goal of the SLAM-DAST project is to apply multiple sensor technologies in the same fibre optic cable, to optimise this and to industrialise it so that it can be applied widely. It is expected to be used in, for example, ‘Structural Health Monitoring’: the monitoring of materials and technical constructions such as bridges, viaducts and pipelines. It can also be used for applications in the soil, such as measuring subsidence or detecting earthquakes.

From gravitational waves to fibre optic sensing
It was not the main objective when, under the banner of the E-TEST project, it was decided to drill a hole near Cottessen for preparatory research for the Einstein Telescope. But the new insights it could provide for fibre optic sensing are a nice by-product. Rob Jansen is pleased that this opportunity has arisen. “It is a unique test location where TNO can demonstrate and characterise the latest technological developments in the field of fibre optics. Together with the enthusiastic and expert team of Nikhef.” Frank Linde is also enthusiastic about the collaboration, which can also provide new insights for the Einstein Telescope: “I always like high-tech. Hopefully with this fibre we can determine the reduction of seismic noise as a function of depth. And that will contribute to a well-founded decision about at what depth the Einstein Telescope could be located.”

12.07.2022

Dutch Growth fund investment in Einstein Telescope now definite

The intended investment of 42 million euros from the Dutch National Growth Fund for the Einstein Telescope is now definite . This was announced today. In April, the Dutch government granted this amount conditionally, but the project still had to develop a detailed valorisation strategy and National Monitoring Evaluation. In the meantime, the project has met these conditions and the allocation has become definite.

The investment of 42 million euros will go towards preparatory work, such as innovation of the required technology, location research, building a high-tech ecosystem and organisation.

In addition to this, the government is also reserving 870 million euros from the National Growthfund for the Einstein Telescope. This reservation provides the Netherlands with an excellent basis for applying in the future, together with Belgium and Germany, to realise the Einstein Telescope in the border region of South Limburg.

About the Einstein Telescope

The Einstein Telescope is a future underground observatory for measuring gravitational waves. Powerful laser beams will soon bounce between deep-cooled, vibration-free mirrors at the ends of kilometre-long vacuum tunnels. The instrument will be much more sensitive than existing detectors. As a result, it can detect many more sources and scan a volume of the universe thousand times larger. Researchers will use this instrument to look for instance for the precise structure of neutron stars, the birth process of black holes and the structure of the universe immediately after the Big Bang.

The border region of South Limburg – the Euregio Meuse-Rhine – is one of the possible locations for this observatory. Housing the Einstein Telescope in this region could have a major positive impact on science, the economy and society in the Netherlands. With the committed investments from the National Growth Fund, the Netherlands has the basis to join forces with Belgium and Germany to establish a strong candidacy in 2024/2025.

05.07.2022

Gravitational waves, the Einstein Telescope scientific collaboration formally established

The Einstein Telescope (ET) scientific collaboration was formally established during the XII ET Symposium which took place at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, in June. The Symposium brought together the scientific community working on the ET Einstein Telescope project to build Europe’s future pioneering gravitational wave observatory.

Named after the great German theoretical physicist who was the first to predict the existence of gravitational waves, ET will be the most sensitive gravitational wave observatory ever built. The large research infrastructure will be used by scientists to “pick up” signals emitted just after the Big Bang and to study the nature of black holes. This makes Einstein Telescope a hugely important instrument for international physics and astronomy.

The Einstein Telescope Project is led by Jo van den Brand of Nikhef, the Dutch National Institute for Subatomic Physics, and by Fernando Ferroni, Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) and Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN).

“We were a scientific community, today we are a scientific collaboration, that is, a structured and organized system that works following shared rules to achieve a common goal: the construction of Einstein Telescope, a large European research infrastructure that will bring us to the centre of world science, allowing us to maintain scientific and technological leadership in this promising field of fundamental physics research. This is therefore a moment of great satisfaction and motivation for all of us,” commented Michele Punturo, an INFN researcher who has been leading the ET community until now and will now serve as the collaboration’s spokesperson.

“In the Collaboration we already have an Observational Science Board with more than four hundred people who are working on different scientific topics, from fundamental physics to nuclear physics, from astrophysics to astroparticle physics, to cosmology. ET will be truly revolutionary for our understanding of the universe throughout its cosmic history,” explained Marica Branchesi, professor at the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) and researcher at INFN, coordinator of the Einstein Telescope Observational Science Board (OSB).

The sophisticated research infrastructure will operate in the field of gravitational and “multi-messenger” astronomy: a branch of astrophysical research established after the first gravitational wave observation in 2015 announced by the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) and Virgo collaborations. “These are exiting times: the detections of gravitational waves by LIGO and Virgo started a scientific revolution, ushering in the era of gravitational and multi-messenger astronomy, which has a bright future,” commented the director of the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO), Stavros Katsanevas.

“The LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA network is currently improving its sensitivity towards a multiplication of detected gravitational wave events by an order of magnitude and more, and it is encouraging that this effort can continue with the third-generation Einstein Telescope detector. ET will probe the universe of gravitational waves to the dawn of star and galaxy formation and beyond,” concluded the EGO Director.

The Symposium brought together 438 scientists from 13 countries, both in person and remotely, who discussed the upcoming challenges and the scientific progress made in recent months by each ET working group. During the event, Jo van den Brand and Fernando Ferroni presented the perspective of the scientific institutions that are supporting ET. Finally, the ET Collaboration Council was established, chaired by Harald Lueck of Max Planck Institute, Germany, and composed of representatives from each of the 79 research groups participating in the collaboration.

03.05.2022

The fifth ET2SMEs Call for vouchers started on May 3 2022!

Become part of the ET2SMEs project by applying for your own ET-related cross border innovation project.

29.04.2022

ET Industrial Advisory Board Meeting – organized face-to-face on April 29 2022 at the University of Maastricht

On 29.04.2022, the next joint ET Industrial Board Meeting of the projects E-TEST, ET2SMEs & ETpathfinder is planned as face-to-face meeting at the University of Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Address: ETPathfinder, at the Maastricht University
Duboisdomein 30
6229 GT, Maastricht
The Netherlands

Free parking places at the ETpathfinder location, accessible via the backside: LeidenLaan

AGENDA

From 10:00 am: Registration & Welcome coffee

10:30 am – 12:00 am – Plenary session – Atrium at the ETpathfinder entrance (maximum capacity: 85 participants)

Welcome

• Why – Who – How – When by Prof. Stefan Hild, UMaastricht NL

ET preparatory project presentations: R&D latest achievements & forecast:

• Einstein Telescope (ET) project , ESFRI Call time-line , ET Investment by Nikhef NL

• ETpathfinder, R&D Laboratory –  06.2019 – 12.2022 by Prof. Stefan Hild, UMaastricht NL

• E-TEST : Einstein Telescope Site and Technology– 02.2020 –12.2023 by Annick Pierrard, Interface Entreprises ULiège BE
  • development of the prototype of suspended mirror in cryogenic conditions (25K) by Prof. Christophe Collette, PML ULiège BE
  • underground study of the EMR by Dr. Marius Waldvogel, RWTH Aachen

• Ongoing and future ETpathfinder and E-TEST Calls for tender

• ET2SMEs – 03.2021 – 12.2023 “Maximizing the economic and social impact of the possible implementation of the Einstein Telescope in Euregio Meuse-Rhine”  by Ralf Meyer, AGIT DE
• ET Economic Impact – Return on Investment
• How to get Business out of Big Science projects like ET, CERN…

• Q/A session

12:00 pm – 15:30 pm:

In parallel: Walking Lunch – Networking – possibility to visit the ETpathfinder facility

13:00 pm: Separation into 4 sub-working groups per technology theme in different meeting rooms: Companies have the floor!

We invite companies to pitch about their expertise and their proposals of cross-border collaborative innovation projects.

The ET researchers will also have the opportunity to present their ideas and needs (see the ET technology online catalogue)

1. Cryogenics – Vacuum – Precision mechanics & mechatronics – Sensors – Advanced control algorithms
2. Optics & optical metrology – Mirrors coating – Lasers
3. Geology/Civil Engineering: Geophysical imaging & remote sensing – Water technology – Tunneling technology – Simulation & modeling
4. Sustainability

Open End of the ET IAB (around 15:30 pm)

14.04.2022

Dutch government embraces plans for Einstein Telescope in border region South-Limburg

The Dutch government intends to conditionally allocate 42 million euros from the Dutch National Growth Fund to the Einstein Telescope, and is also reserving 870 million euros for a future Dutch contribution to the construction. This decision was taken by the Dutch government based on the advice of the Advisory Committee of the National Growth Fund. With this decision, the Cabinet gives an enormous boost to Dutch science and to the broad development of the South Limburg border region.

The intended investment of 42 million euros will go towards preparatory work such as innovation of the necessary technology, location research, building up a high-tech ecosystem and organisation. With the reservation of the 870 million, the Netherlands has an excellent basis to apply in the future, together with Belgium and Germany, for the realisation of the Einstein Telescope in the border region of South Limburg.

The Cabinet however does ask for a further explanation of the valorisation strategy of the scientific project. The initiators are also asked to further elaborate the plan for monitoring and evaluation of the project. The partners involved will of course work to meet these conditions timely.

The proposal for granting money from the National Growth Fund to the Einstein Telescope was submitted on 31 October 2021 by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), with the support of the colleague from Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK).

National Institute for Subatomic Physics Nikhef, the Province of Limburg and regional development agency LIOF jointly drew up the growth fund proposal last year, supported by the Ministries of OCW and EZK. Nikhef director Stan Bentvelsen has been involved with the Einstein Telescope for years. He is delighted, but also sees that there is still a lot of work to be done: “It is fantastic that the cabinet embraces the ambition to make the Netherlands a world leader in research into gravity waves. These Growth Fund resources form the basis for further cooperation with our partners in Germany and Belgium and for research into the geological subsurface in the border region of South Limburg. A major project requires a careful process, and we are putting our heart and soul into it. I am confident that we will meet the additional conditions.”

Stephan Satijn, Provincial Executive member for Limburg, is very enthusiastic about the opportunities that the possible arrival of the Einstein Telescope offers for the Netherlands and Limburg.

“With today’s decision, the Cabinet places our country at the global forefront of high-tech and science. Limburg is the logical place to help shape this leading position. Not only because of the suitability of our soil for the Einstein Telescope, but also because we are accustomed like no other to working together internationally and to connecting science and business. I am pleased and proud that the government recognises the value of Limburg and is helping to increase it further with such a substantial investment. In addition to direct orders for companies, the Einstein Telescope gives Limburg and the Netherlands a unique lead in knowledge, expertise and innovative technologies that can be marketed by existing or new companies. This is essential for the economic development of the Netherlands in the medium and especially the long term.”

About the Einstein Telescope

The Einstein Telescope is a future underground observatory for measuring gravitational waves. Powerful laser beams will soon bounce between deep-cooled, vibration-free mirrors at the ends of kilometre-long vacuum tunnels. The instrument will be much more sensitive than existing detectors. As a result, it can detect many more sources and scan a volume of the universe thousand times larger. Researchers will use this instrument to look for instance for the precise structure of neutron stars, the birth process of black holes and the structure of the universe immediately after the Big Bang.

The border region of South Limburg – the Euregio Meuse-Rhine – is one of the possible locations for this observatory. Housing the Einstein Telescope in this region could have a major positive impact on science, the economy and society in the Netherlands. With the committed investments from the National Growth Fund, the Netherlands has the basis to join forces with Belgium and Germany to establish a strong candidacy in 2024/2025.

This is a joint press release of National Institute for Subatomic Physics Nikhef, Province of Limburg and regional development agency for Limburg LIOF.

31.03.2022

Grenzlandkonferenz 2022

On 31.03.2022, the 4^th German-Dutch GrenzLands Conference will take place in the Aachen Coronation Hall. During the conference, new goals of cross-border cooperation will be presented and a balance sheet of the past years will be drawn up. Thematically, the GrenzLands Conference will be based on the contents of the North Rhine-Westphalia – Dutch Borderlands Agenda. Due to the geographical location of Aachen and the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, the conference will also include elements of tri-national cooperation.

For this reason, a side event on the Einstein telescope will take place in the context of the GrenzLands Conference, with the aim of involving representatives of German politics just as closely in the preparatory activities and to consider the establishment of a German task force in the future.

The GrenzLands Conference 2022 will take place face-to-face.

On the conference, an award for special commitment to cross-border cooperation will be presented again this year. You can find the call here. Call for the Border Region Award 2022

18.03.2022

Conférence Wallonne télescope Einstein

18/03/2022 – Liège Science Park, Liège

Le Télescope Einstein est un projet européen de grande infrastructure scientifique, qui a pour objectif de créer le plus grand observatoire mondial en matière de détection d’ondes gravitationnelles (d’infimes soubresauts de l’espace-temps) afin de mieux comprendre la théorie du big bang et les origines de l’Univers.

L’infrastructure consistera en trois paires d’interféromètres géants, longs chacun de 10km, disposés en triangle, et enfouis entre 200 et 300 mètres de profondeur. 
Plusieurs sites d’implantation en Europe sont envisagés, parmi lesquels la région des Trois Frontières, au cœur de l’Euregio Meuse-Rhin, à cheval sur les frontières belge, hollandaise et allemande. La décision sur la localisation serait prise en 2025.

En attendant, l’Euregio Meuse-Rhin se prépare, à travers plusieurs projets financés et en cours (E-TEST, ETpathfinder, ET2SMEs), permettant d’étudier par exemple les sous-sols de manière approfondie, de développer un grand miroir suspendu à température cryogénique (un projet unique au monde qui sera développé au CSL à Liège) et des technologies pour améliorer l’observation des ondes gravitationnelles. 

Prédites par Albert Einstein et observées pour la première fois en 2015, les ondes gravitationnelles marquent les débuts de la révolution de l’astronomie gravitationnelle, et d’une nouvelle physique pour aller plus loin dans la compréhension des origines et de l’évolution de notre Univers. 

Le Télescope Einstein est un énorme projet scientifique qui pourrait prendre place partiellement en Wallonie. Il offre des opportunités importantes et très stimulantes pour les chercheurs mais aussi les entreprises technologiques des régions concernées, tout en constituant un indéniable facteur d’attraction, à l’image du CERN. 

La Conférence wallonne Einstein Telescope, organisée ce 18 mars par l’ULiège et l’Euregio Meuse-Rhin, était l’occasion d’informer tous les acteurs wallons sur les multiples facettes du projet et de faire un état des lieux du dossier.

Cette conférence s’est déclinée en 3 séances:

La séance scientifique s’est tenue dès 9h00 au Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) en présence du Secrétaire d’Etat, Thomas Dermine, du Gouverneur de la Province de Liège, Hervé Jamar, le Président de l’Euregio-Meuse-Rhin, Luc Gillard, et son Directeur, Michael Dejozé, ainsi que de Belspo et de l’Antenne Interreg régionale Liège Euregio Meuse-Rhin.

La séance politique s’est tenue à l’Interface Entreprises-Université de Liège.

Les Ministres-Présidents Pierre-Yves Jeholet et Oliver Paasch, le Secrétaire d’État Thomas Dermine ainsi que les Ministres, Vice-présidents du Gouvernement wallon Willy Borsus et Philippe Henry, le Gouverneur de la Province de Liège, Hervé Jamar, le Président de l’Euregio-Meuse-Rhin, Luc Gillard, et son Directeur, Michael Dejozé, et les représentants des communes d’Aubel, Plombières et Dalhem concernées par le projet ont pris part à la Conférence Wallonne du Télescope Einstein. Les Cabinets des Ministres Di-Rupo, Glatigny et Morreale étaient représentés par leurs conseillers.

La séance économique s’est tenue l’après-midi en présence de PMEs et de grandes entreprises wallonnes, des pôles de compétitivité Skywin, MecaTech et GreenWin, des agences de développement de l’économie Sowalfin, SPI et wfg Ostbelgien, et du réseau LIEU.

14.12.2021

(Eu)Regional SMEs benefit from Einstein Telescope: Implement your own ideas with up to 50,000 euro vouchers!

Euregio Meuse-Rhine, December 2021 – Our cross-border region is applying for the Einstein Telescope (ET), a third generation gravitational wave detector and cutting-edge research infrastructure of global importance. As of now, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups and engineering companies with special expertise in the operational and geological technologies of the planned large-scale research facility can receive funding from 25,000 to 50,000 euros to realize their project idea. This involves application and experimental development projects that are innovative and carried out with a cross-border EMR company.

Call one for vouchers: Applications for innovation vouchers can be submitted until January 24th, 2022. For more information on the conditions of the competition, please visit: https://et2smes.eu/vouchers/.

Far more than 100 businesses, especially SMEs, joined the virtual information event on December 9th and informed them-selves about their inspiring opportunities.

The new offer is provided by the ET2MEs project involving 7 business development agencies/partners supported by INTERREG EMR VA Programme.

“We not only provide innovation vouchers worth 25,000 to 50,000 euros, but also directly connect the companies with complementary partners on the other side of the national borders,” explains Ralf P. Meyer, leadpartner of the ET2SMEs project at AGIT. “In all phases, from planning and construction to regular operation of the facility, companies from the EMR will be able to apply directly for tenders and thus for numerous contracts involving the Einstein Telescope,” emphasises Ralf P.Meyer.

Companies will also soon have the opportunity to present themselves and their know-how in a virtual 3D model of the ET. Furthermore, there is and will be the opportunity to participate to the joint ET Industrial Advisory Board ( ET IAB) of business and research for the large-scale facility as a dialogue partner and advisor in the coming years.

The aim of ET2SMEs is to bring the Einstein Telescope, for which the EMR is competing with excellent chances with Sardinia, closer to SMEs in the region and to let them participate directly in terms of technology development and economic exploitation. Technologies include optics, mirror coating, laser cryogenics, vacuum, precision mechanics / mechatronics, sensors / controls, but also drilling technology, modelling, simulation, artificial intelligence or hydrology.

The most important concern is to stimulate the cross-border innovation-oriented cooperation of technology-oriented companies and to produce targeted innovations that are significant not only for the ET, but also for other demanding applications and future markets.

The Einstein Telescope is a unique research project with global impact that will put Europe at the forefront of a new research discipline worldwide: The gravitational wave observatory of the latest, third generation will produce fundamentally new insights into the formation of the universe and the evolution of galaxies, stars and black holes. The investment for this large-scale research facility alone amounts to 1.9 billion euros, 500 direct and 1,150 indirect jobs will be created and another two billion euros are estimated for its operation until 2080.

Along with Sardinia (IT), the EMR is the last suitable region in Europe to apply for the location of this facility. A final decision on the location is expected in early 2025. Commissioning of the facility is planned from 2032.

09.12.2021, virtual (zoom)

ET2SMEs Innovation voucher Kick-off

The 1st ET2SMEs Call for innovation vouchers openend on December 1^st, 2021.

To give companies from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany the best possible start for their innovation projects, a virtual meeting took place on 09 December 2021. Here, the Call for Vouchers and first exemplary innovation projects were presented and questions answered.

November 10 & 11, 2021

Participation to the Precision Fair in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands

E-TEST, ETpathfinder and ET2SMEs had the pleasure to welcome you on their joint Eintein telescope Booth 417, Hall 2 at the Precision Fair in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

November 8th, 2021

Opening of the ETpathfinder clean room of the University of Maastricht

Friday, October 22^nd, 2021

Science meets Industry at the ULiège – Interface Entreprises!

October 08^th 2021 marked the 2^nd Industrial Advisory Board meeting on the #EinsteinTelescope. Scientific project partners from #ETEST, #ETpathfinder and #ET2SMEs business developers met with industrial partners.

Thank you so much to the 150 participants from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany for their fruitful exchanges on ET technologies and challenges!

A special thank to Martijn Rumpen from Provincie Limburg NL, and Melvin Könings from Lysias NL for their highlight of the economic impact and return on investment.

We are right now building the future of the Einstein telescope in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine!

Friday, October 8^th, 2021

ET Industrial Advisory Board face-to-face Meeting – Friday October 8 morning from 9:30 am till 2:00 pm

The Einstein telescope and preparation projects as E-TEST, ETpathfinder and ET2SMEs are pushing the technology beyond the current state of the art in many areas, both for the prototype of interferometer and for geological investigation of the subsurface. 

As part of E-TEST, we have established an ET Industrial Advisory Board ( ET IAB) to facilitate close collaboration with various industrial partners, both SMEs and large companies active in the fields of activities required by the ET, from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

The second joint ET Industrial Advisory Board will take place on October 8 2021 from 9:30 am till 2:00 pm, lunch included.  

We have the pleasure to announce that it will be organized face-to-face, at the Interface Entreprises ULiège, Avenue Pré Aily, 4, 4031 Angleur (Liège), Belgium.

The general/common part of the meeting will be recorded and published on the website. The specific Working Groups are only organized face-to-face and won’t be recorded.

Agenda

Registration, check of Sanitary Pass & Welcome coffee from 8:45 am

9:30 am- 11:00 am – Welcome and general session

Welcome – by Annick Pierrard, ULiège Interface Entreprises

• WHY: Purpose of the joint ET Industrial Advisory Board?
• WHO: To who is it dedicated?
• HOW:  What are the conditions to participate?
• WHEN: Frequency of the meeting

Short project presentations & latest achievements:

• Einstein Telescope (ET) project, investment & ESFRI Call time-line
• Einstein Telescope social/economy impact, return on investment – by Provincie Limburg NL / Lysias
• E-TEST : Einstein Telescope Site and Technology – 01.02.2020 – 31.07.2023
• ETpathfinder, R&D Laboratory –  03.06.2019 – 02.06.2022
• ET2SMEs – 01.03.2021 – 31.08.2023 “Maximising the economic and social impact of the possible implementation of the Einstein Telescope in Euregio Meuse-Rhine”
• Q/A session

11:00 am – 11:15 pm – Coffee break

11:15 am – 11:30 pm – Separation into 6 sub-working groups in different meeting rooms

11:30 am – 13:00 pm – Interactive industrial/scientist Prototype and Geology Working Groups led by the ET Technology Sheets Responsibles, with the participation of one ET2SMEs business developer per WG, based on the technologies requested by the Einstein Telescope

1. Cryogenics – Vacuum
2. Precision mechanics and mechatronics – Sensors – Advanced control algorithms
3. Mirrors coating – Lasers – Optics & optical metrology
4. Geophysical imaging and remote sensing
5. Water technology – Tunneling technology
6. Simulation and modeling

Please find the mutual NDA to be completed and signed in duplicate (one for the company, the other for the University of Liege) by each company participating in the ET Technology Working Groups.
Please send it scanned to a.pierrard@uliege.be, and bring the original copy for the University of Liege signed on the day of the ET IAB.

13:00 pm – 14:00 pm – Lunch in the different meeting rooms

14:00 pm – End of the ET IAB

The registration to the ET IAB is free of charge but mandatory via this link. We are looking forward to meeting all of you on October 8!

On 23/09/21 we have reached the maximal number of participants that we can welcome face-to-face at the Interface Entreprises-ULiège.

From now on, only virtual participation to the general part of the ET IAB will be possible (from 9:30 am till 11:00 am).

Please note that the 6 technology Working Groups are only organised face-to-face and won’t be recorded.

Deadline for registration to participate virtually to the general part on the ET IAB (from 9:30 am till 11:00 am) is Thursday October 7 at 10:00 am. The ZOOM link will be sent to all registered persons.

Feel Safe.

Gates wide open – with proof. Welcome to the Interface Entreprises-ULiège with full vaccination protection, recovery or negative test result from an official testing centre. Your proof is complete in combination with your identity card or passport.

The right timing. A negative PCR or antigenic test must be no more than 48 hours old, the second vaccination at least 14 days ago, the positive PCR test result at recovery between 28 days and 6 months old. Done? Let´s go.

It all depends on the right apps. For fast, smooth entry, it‘s up to you too. Enter your proof of full vaccination, recovery or negative test in the apps Corona-Warn or CovPass.

By far the best idea. Though we ask you to maintain a minimum distance of 1.5 metres from other ET Industrial Advisory Board participants, you will still see the latest innovation up close and personal.

For everyone‘s protection. Please wear a medical mask or FFP2 mask (no visors or fabric masks). And although you might not be able to see it, we are smiling at you behind our masks.

Networking without physical contact. Even though you might be delighted at seeing other people again or closing a successful Science-to-Business or Business-to-Business collaboration – please forego shaking hands and physical contact.

“Bless you.”  For the sake of yourself and others, please sneeze or cough into the crook of your arm. Even better, do so while maintaining a great distance of least one metre or turning away from others.

Effective infection protection. Sanitiser dispensers located in our entrance and meeting rooms are ready for frequent use. And highly exposed surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected for you.

Let it taste good. With our catering partners in the different meeting rooms: with tailor-made concepts for compliance with all safety and hygiene regulations. Enjoy your meal!

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

First drilling in Banholt, the Netherlands

Since not much is known from the geological formations below the Cretaceous limestones below the area near Banholt we will drill a 250 m deep borehole. Like the other upcoming planned boreholes this borehole will be finished as a deep subsurface seismic noise station.
The KNMI – Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute will install a surface and a deep seismometer in this borehole. For accurate noise measurements the borehole should be drilled perfectly straight and finished as a watertight, dry borehole.
To obtain information for our geophysical surveys like active, passive seismics and info for our 3D-geohydrological and geological modelling we will perform multiple tests and measurements inside this and other upcoming boreholes.
The outcoming samples will be tested in the lab to obtain info of the geotechnical conditions deep below this region.
The same applies for another 250 m deep drilling starting during October 2021 in #Cottessen within 100m distance of the Belgian-Dutch border.

Thursday, July 1^st, 2021

Einstein Telescope approved
for ESFRI Roadmap 2021

On June 30^th, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) decided to include the Einstein Telescope in the 2021 upgrade of its roadmap. This confirms the relevance of this major international project for a next generation gravitational waves observatory for the future of research infrastructures in Europe and gravitational wave research at global level.

The Research Infrastructure Consortium Coordinators, Antonio Zoccoli of INFN and Stan Bentvelsen of Nikhef, are extremely excited about this result. “We are very pleased about this important result: the ESFRI approval acknowledges the value of our project and strengthens the Einstein Telescope at the European level”, says Zoccoli. “We will work synergistically for its development, confident that it is strategic to foster our knowledge of the universe, technological innovation and social growth.”

“The ESFRI-status is a major step towards the realisation of this European project, – says Bentvelsen – “scientifically the Einstein Telescope is undisputed, and with the ESFRI-status there is indispensable recognized support for its quality and impact. We are looking ahead to further develop the plans together with all countries involved.”

The Italian government submitted the proposal for the ESFRI-roadmap on September 9^th, 2020 supported by the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Spain. “The preparation of the proposal has been a two years large effort involving several research institutions and universities, now composing the Einstein Telescope consortium, belonging to ten European countries and having real interdisciplinary competences”, says Michele Punturo, Coordinator of the ET-ESFRI proposal preparation.

Since September 9th, several of the people involved were invited to present the plans, to deepen specific aspects of the project and answer questions of the ESFRI evaluation committee. Among them was Marica Branchesi, member of the ET-ESFRI proposal preparation team: “We have worked hard to develop the science case of the Einstein Telescope. Each simulation showed us the enormous capabilities of the Einstein Telescope observing the Universe. The Einstein Telescope will revolutionize our knowledge in fundamental physics, astrophysics, and cosmology”, says Branchesi.

The Einstein Telescope was identified after a long and accurate process of evaluation and selection. During the ESFRI Assembly meeting, delegates officially decided to include the Einstein Telescope in the roadmap. This official European approval now brings the project into a new phase. The scientific Institutions involved from ten countries (Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, The Netherland, United Kingdom) will now have to intensify their research and development work on the Einstein Telescope and gravitational waves. It will also speed up the ongoing subsurface studies for the characterization and evaluation of the candidate sites that could host the underground infrastructure.

A new window on the universe

The Einstein Telescope is a future underground observatory for gravitational waves. The instrument will be much more sensitive than existing gravitational wave detectors. Therefore, the observatory will enable scientists to peek into the ‘dark ages’ of the universe for the first time. Gravitational waves were detected for the first time in 2015 and offer a new way of studying the universe. Until their first detection, scientists could only study the universe by looking at light or radiation, but with gravitational waves they can observe vibrations of spacetime itself.

Although the existence of gravitational waves was already predicted by Albert Einstein a hundred years ago, he did not expect it was possible to ever detect them. Yet with the mind blowing technological developments of the last century, scientists and engineers have managed to reach the sensitivity and precision that is needed to observe them. This opened a new era in the study of the universe, the era of gravitational wave and multimessenger astronomy, and led to a Nobel prize in 2017. The Einstein Telescope will lead to many more unimaginable discoveries in the future in this new field of research.

Thursday, May 27th, 13.00 – 14.30 pm

ET2SMEs – Kick-Off Event

The Einstein Telescope (ET) will open a new window to the universe through the observation of gravitational waves, positioning Europe at the forefront of this outstanding „cutting edge“ technology. The extended Euregio Meuse-Rhine obtains not only the best chances for being the location of this new research facility. Additionally, it offers great opportunities for innovative SMEs to further develop their advanced products and services, not only for the telescope, but also to other applications and other highly demanding markets!

ET2SMEs supports the development of new innovative products and services by promoting transnational R&D projects carried out by SMEs working together across borders in the extended Euregio Meuse-Rhine. If you want to learn more, how also your company can benefit, please join the Kick-Off Event on May 27th, 13.00 – 14.30 pm.

Thursday, December 10 , 9:00 am – 12:15 pm

First Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) Meeting

We have the pleasure to invite you to our first joined ET Industrial Advisory Board, that will be organised remotely (by ZOOM) on Thursday December 10 from 9:00 am till 12:15 pm.

The scientific partners of both E-TEST and ETpathfinder projects are joining force to meet and collaborate with all companies active in the field of activity required by the Einstein Telescope.

AGENDA:

Online ZOOM 1 connection from 8:30 am

9:00 am till 9:45 am – Welcome and common session (ZOOM 1)

-Short presentation of the:

Einstein Telescope (ET) project and ESFRI Call time-line

E-TEST : Einstein Telescope Site and Technology:

• E-TEST will build a prototype – a large suspended mirror at cryogenic temperature (10 Kelvin) – to validate the telescope’s technology.
• E-TEST will also run an underground study to map and model the geology of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

ETpathfinder : R&D infrastructure for testing and prototyping innovative concepts and enabling technologies for the Einstein Telescope

under submission ET2SMEs, expected start on March 1 2021: Maximising the economical and social impact of the possible implementation of the Einstein Telescope in Euregio Meuse-Rhine

-Purpose of the Industrial Advisory Board? to who is it dedicated? What are the conditions to participate?

-E-TEST and ETpathfinder ongoing and future Procurements (calls for tender)

-Key Enabling Technologies: a group of six technologies: micro and nanoelectronics, nanotechnology, industrial biotechnology, advanced materials, photonics, and advanced manufacturing technologies – increase industrial innovation to address societal challenges and creating advanced and sustainable economies.

-Online Catalogue of ET Technologies

10:00 am till 11:45 am- Separation into 2 online sessions ZOOM 1 PROTOTYPE and ZOOM 2 GEOLOGY:

1- Interactive industrial/scientist Prototype session led by the Prototype scientific working group (Scientific Lead Partner Prof. Christophe Collette), based on the ET requested technologies

2- Interactive industrial/scientist Geology session led by the Geology scientific working group (Scientific Lead Partner Prof. Frederic Nguyen), based on the ET requested technologies

12:00 pm – Back to common session ZOOM 1:

–Summary of the main points of the 2 interactive online sessions, by the 2 scientific lead partners

–Next steps: Next IAB meeting planning,

Upcoming Procurements (call for tenders) for E-TEST and ETpathfinder,

Approval/or not and official start of ET2SMEs

12:15 pm – End

The Industrial Advisory Board is organized jointly by both projects, and is dedicate to all SME/companies active in the fields of technologies required by the Einstein Telescope as well for the prototype than for all the geology aspects.

Are also warmly invited: EMR Business Development Agencies, EMR clusters of competitiveness, EMR sectorial agencies, ….as well as regional Authorities involved in the possible implementation of Einstein Telescope in EMR and all it’s economic and social impact.

The registration is mandatory and has to be done online on our E-TEST website, via the form on the “Industries” page: https://www.etest-emr.eu/et-technologies/

All registered participant will receive the ZOOM links (ZOOM 1 and ZOOM 2) 2 days before the meeting. A reminder with the links will be sent on Thursday December 10 morning.

The Einstein-Telescope – tracking down gravitational waves with high-tech

(WebTalk in german language)

Thursday, 29. October 2020, 04:30 pm

The Einstein telescope will be used in the border region between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany to create a new type of underground telescope that will pick up gravitational waves from the universe and thus be able to track black holes, neutron stars or stellar explosions throughout the universe. It is based on 10 km long laser interferometers whose components are operated in an ultra-high vacuum at 10 Kelvin and at the same time are mounted in vibration-damped bearings. The triangular research infrastructure with a side length of 10 km at a depth of about 300 m in the Belgian-Dutch-German border region has to overcome many technological challenges in cooperation between industry and science in order to be realised.

Professor Dr. Achim Stahl, spokesman of the Physics Section and head of the III Physics Institute B of RWTH Aachen University, will use this WebTalk to provide an insight into the fascination of gravitational wave research and the resulting findings, as well as to address some of the technological challenges that need to be solved by means of future, cross-technology cooperation between regional players from industry and research. Within the Interreg EMR project E-TEST, the technological basis for the Einstein Telescope at demonstrator scale will be developed and solutions – ideally with regional partners – for the technological implementation of the Einstein Telescope will be worked on.

Are you also interested in the topic or do you develop components and systems in the fields of cryogenics, photonics, sensor technology, (quantum) optics, control, measurement and control engineering, materials and simulations? Learn more about the technological requirements and get access to the E-TEST consortium in this WebTalk.

Online E-TEST Kick-Off Event!

Friday, 09. October 2020, 9:30 am – 11 am

• 9:30 am – 9:50 am:
  • Welcome by Mr. Willy Borsus, Minister and Vice-President of the Walloon Government
  • Welcome by Mr. Mark Vos, Interreg EMR Programme Coordinator
  • Welcome by Prof. Pierre Wolper, Rector of ULiège
• 9:50 am – 10:45 am: E-TEST Project Presentation
  • General introduction by Annick Pierrard & Christophe Collette, ULiège
  • WPT1 Ultra-cold vibration control by Alessandro Bertolini, Nikhef
  • WPT2 Optical engineering by Oliver Fitzau, Fraunhofer ILT
  • WPT3 EMR cross-border underground observatory by Frédéric Nguyen, ULiège
  • WPT4 Geological modelling and Engineering Geology of the ET by Florian Amann, RWTH Aachen
  • Industrial Advisory Board & SMEs invitation, ET2SMEs & long term collaboration
  • The final word…by Albert
• 10:45 am – 11:00 am: Q/A
• 11:00 am: End of the online Kick-Off Event

• 11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Press Conference, organised face-to-face at the ITF ULiège with the journalists

DEEP GEOTHERMAL TECHNICAL CHALLENGES, UNCERTAINTIES & RISKS  

29^th of September from 10:00 a.m. to 15:OO p.m.

Participation is free of charge but we kindly ask for pre-registration at: https://www.thermogis.nl/en/dge-registration

Program:

•  Welcome by meeting organizer and DGE-ROLLOUT coordinator
•  Key note: Deep geothermal energy – state-of-the-art, challenges and opportunities
•  Key note: Drilling risks in deep carbonates 
•  Key note: What thrives an energy company in a big city to develop geothermal
•  Contributions on challenges of deep geothermal 

23.02.2023

Einstein Telescope: no more permits for wind turbines to be issued for the time being

An important directive has just been issued to give the Belgian bid for the Einstein Telescope project a fair chance. No more permits will be issued for wind turbines until we are sure that both are compatible.

More information: https://www.sudinfo.be/id622461/article/2023-02-23/telescope-einstein-plus-aucun-permis-pour-des-eoliennes-ne-sera-delivre-pour

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/annick-pierrard_sud-presse-23022023-activity-7034515963664302080-4FHM?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

03 June 2022

E-TEST prototype design report

28 April 2022

Scientific paper published

A joint team of gravitational wave detector scientists from all over europe has published a scientific article on the design of the upcoming detector generation. For the official publication click below:

Galaxies | Free Full-Text | Research Facilities for Europe’s Next Generation Gravitational-Wave Detector Einstein Telescope (mdpi.com)

18 March 2022, rtbf.be

Le centre spatial de Liège construit le premier prototype du futur téléscope Einstein

18 March 2022, RTC TELE LIEGE

Le Télescope Einstein, un défi pour l’ULiège

26 May 2021, De Limburger

Nieuw project Einstein Telescope

26 May 2021

May 04 2021

Le télescope Einstein, un “mini-Cern” très prisé

01 March 2021 www.et2smes.eu

ET2SMEs: SMEs benefit from Einstein Telescope

24 March 2021, www.zenit.de

Einsteinteleskop: Milliardenprojekt trifft Mittelstand

08 February 2021, Spekrtum.de

Der Traum vom Einstein-Teleskop

12 November 2020, MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR GRAVITATIONAL PHYSICS (Albert Einstein Institute)

NRW state parliament unanimously supports Einstein Telescope

5 November 2020, hbvl.be

15 October 2020, www.trends-tendances.be

La Belgique candidate pour accueillir le télescope géant Einstein

14 October 2020, WochenSpiegel

12 October 2020, Daily Science

L’EUREGIO MEUSE-RHIN SE PRÉPARE AU TÉLESCOPE EINSTEIN

10 October 2020, Les Sports

Mieux comprendre l’évolution de l’Univers

10 October 2020, L’Echo

La Belgique espère attirer le mégaprojet de télescope souterrain Einstein

9 October 2020, Liège université

E-TEST: Euregio prepares for the Einstein telescope

6 October 2020, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2020

18 September 2020, L’ Avenir

14 September 2020, Liège université

The Einstein telescope on its way to Europe!

17 September 2020, La Libre Belgique

14 September 2020, Spekrtum.de

Der Traum vom Einstein-Teleskop

March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

May 27 2021

ET2SMEs – Kick-Off Event

April 26 2021

The Einstein Telescope

5 March 2021, , www.vedia.be

Plombières future référence universelle ?

26 February 2021, www.vedia.be

Epistème 10 : le télescope Einstein

First Industrial Advisory Board Meeting

NMWP Innovation2GO WebTalk „Das Einstein-Teleskop – Gravitationswellen mit High-Tech auf die Spur kommen“ (German Language)

Video of the Online E-TEST Kick-Off Event

The Einstein Telescope presentation by Albert.