First Ultra-cool Vibes technology workshop for the Einstein Telescope in Liège
On 14 May, the Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) hosted the “Ultra-Cool Vibes” technology workshop. The event brought together 60 key players from the scientific and business worlds and marked a new milestone in the industrial development of ET technologies and the bid of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) to host this mega-project.
The workshop shed light on the major socio-economic issues involved in building ET. With the support of the Université de Liège, GRE-Liège, UCLouvain and the MecaTech and Skywin clusters, they highlighted the crucial aspects of this challenge, including scientific exploration on an unprecedented scale, territorial recognition, socio-economic spin-offs (a recent study conducted by BXVentures, on behalf of GRE-Liège, estimates a multiplier effect of 4 for every 1 euro invested, generating significant employment and growth opportunities for the EMR), as well as educational aspects (with, for example, the stimulation of student interest in STEM).
Sessions dedicated to technological challenges
The “Ultra-Cool Vibes” ET Technology Workshop was structured around 3 separate sessions, each exploring one of the major technological challenges:
- Precision mechanics: vibration isolation using passive and active technologies for heavy mirrors
- Sensors: high-precision, cryogenic-compatible vibration sensors
- Cryogenics: non-contact, vibration-free cooling systems for mirrors, reaching temperatures of the order of 10 to 20 Kelvin.
Participants praised the quality of the information provided and the expertise of the speakers, who presented the technical challenges in detail and the innovative solutions envisaged, sources of future collaboration between science and business.
Other meetings to come
This Workshop was only the first step. Other meetings will be scheduled in the coming weeks by the 4 Walloon competitiveness clusters and partners to study other technological challenges of ET instruments, including mirrors and their coatings, optics and lasers, and advanced algorithms.
These future workshops will offer companies and RCs new opportunities to become actively and concretely involved in collaborative projects in preparation for ET and to contribute to its success for technology players.
This event confirms the growing mobilisation of Wallonia and the EMR around this revolutionary scientific project, which could position the region as a leading centre of scientific and technological excellence.
It raised awareness of the ET project among the business world and helped them to position themselves now with the Universities in calls for projects 43 and 44.
Author: Arnaud Stiepen
