Einstein CEO Sjoerd Sjoerdsma nominated as minister in Dutch government

CEO Sjoerd Sjoerdsma of Einstein Telescope Netherlands (ET NL) has been nominated as Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the new Dutch government. This step naturally means that he will be leaving the Einstein Telescope organisation. It is not yet clear who will take over this role.

Sjoerd Sjoerdsma was not only the CEO of the Dutch organisation, but also chairman of the international EMR Task Force. This task force includes all government partners from the countries and sub-regions of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine candidacy, who work together to steer and monitor progress.

As soon as it is clear who will take over Sjoerd Sjoerdsma’s role within the Einstein Telescope organisation, we will publish this via our communication channels.

Sjoerd Sjoerdsma was a member of the House of Representatives between 2012 and 2023, where he was spokesperson for foreign affairs, among other things. Prior to that, he worked as a diplomat in the Palestinian territories, Sudan and Afghanistan, among other places.

Rianne Letschert

At the end of last week, it was announced that Rianne Letschert is the intended Minister of Education, Science and Culture (OCW). Since December last year, she has been an informateur tasked with forming a new government. She will now hold a ministerial post in this government.

Maastricht University

As chair of the board of Maastricht University, which houses both ETpathfinder and the Einstein Telescope EMR Project Office, Rianne Letschert is involved in developments surrounding the underground telescope.

National Growth Fund

This also applies to her chairmanship of the National Growth Fund, which, under her predecessor Jeroen Dijsselbloem, already selected the Einstein Telescope as one of the projects that contribute to the future of the Netherlands in a sustainable and innovative way and can therefore count on support from the fund.