Ministers give green light to consortium formation Einstein Telescope EMR

At the ET Ministerial Conference, delegates from Belgium, the Netherlands and the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia agreed to make preparations for a joint consortium to establish the Einstein Telescope in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. That consortium will focus on further detailing the responsibilities and involvement of all governance levels involved in the candidature from the three countries.

By signing a declaration of intent on such cooperation, the ministers from Belgium, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia gave the green light for this project in Brussels on 26 September. The statement relates to how cross-border cooperation will shape the preparations up to and including the submission of a bid book for the Einstein Telescope. An official task force has been assigned to develop the proposals for the consortium.

The agreement is the administrative follow-up to the December 2022 Bonn agreement, when ministers and provincial executive members agreed to set up a task force to promote cooperation between the three countries at various levels of government.

Progress

Flemish Minister for Innovation Jo Brouns hosted the meeting: “I experienced a lot of positive energy today to make the Einstein Telescope project a success story. The will is there to work together to achieve it, with public authorities, with knowledge institutions and with business. I will continue to closely monitor this project, which is so important for Limburg, Flanders, Belgium, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia, knowing that we are creating something unique.”

The agreement was signed by ministers, state secretaries and provincial executive members from Federal Belgium, Wallonia, Flanders, the French-speaking Community, the German-speaking Community, the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Dutch government and the Dutch Province of Limburg.