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 realisation 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.

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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