Wallonia: 200 million for the Einstein Telescope

Wallonia is investing 200 million euros in the Einstein Telescope if it is built in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. This financial boost for the scientific measuring instrument can be used from 2028 onwards. The Walloon government made this decision.

Task force

This financial commitment follows the earlier Walloon step taken at the beginning of July, when Prime Minister Dolimont and Minister Jeholet announced the establishment of a Walloon task force specifically focused on the Einstein Telescope. That task force is now almost complete. In the press release announcing the 200 million euro for the Einstein Telescope, the Walloon government speaks of a “historic opportunity for scientific development, which must be accompanied by an ambitious economic project in Wallonia”.

Scientific excellence

When announcing the task force two months ago, Prime Minister Dolimont and Minister Jeholet stated that with this task force, “the necessary tools are in place to successfully complete the bid”. Both ministers described the Einstein Telescope project as a good illustration of Wallonia’s strategy of intelligent specialisation and scientific excellence to secure new partnerships that will ensure Wallonia’s technological future.

In Belgium, Flanders has also indicated that it will reserve 200 million euros for the Einstein Telescope if it is decided to build it in the border region between Belgium, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia. Italy would also like to build the telescope in Sardinia, and the German state of Saxony is also in the running.

Read also the press release from the Walloon government announcing the 200 million investment.