Italy enters the ESS, European Spallation Source

 
European Spallation Source: Italy joins the construction of the European super-microscope. Positive consequences are expected for the research ambient and related enterprises. 

Italy joins the construction project of the great research infrastructure, European Spallation Source. The facility, which targets the production of intense neutron beams to be used in multidisciplinary studies, will be located in Lund, Sweden, and will be  open to all researchers from Europe.
The minister of “Istruzione, Università e Ricerca”, Stefania Giannini, has officially endorsed the Italian commitment to the initiative. The ESS is a neutron source, which will allow the scientists to probe the structure, dynamics and interactions of atoms and molecules. In a sense, it can be considered as a giant “microscope” for the study of materials.
The new infrastructure will be at least 30 times more efficient  compared to the existing facilities of its kind. According to the agreement, the participation of Italy will mainly involve the design and delivery of high technology instrumentation.
This type of contribution will allow the involvement of highly qualified Italian industry, along with research institutions such as the “Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN)”, the National Research Council (CNR), and the Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, as well as several universities. Italy has already taken part in the pre-construction phase of the ESS with financing from MIUR. MIUR will continue to finance the subsequent construction phases of the super-microscope, with nearly 110 million Euros coming from the FOE (il “Fondo Ordinario degli Enti di Ricerca”), in particular from the funds dedicated to the support of pan-European research infrastructures.

Rome, June 27,  2014

Press release by MIUR (Ministero dell'Isruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca) 


 

Last Updated on Tuesday, 05 August 2014 11:13