Ben Knapen appointed Special Envoy for the Einstein Telescope

Ben Knapen, the former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been appointed Special Envoy for the Einstein Telescope. This decision was taken by the Dutch Council of Ministers on the recommendation of Minister Rianne Letschert (Education, Culture and Science).

Also new is the appointment by the Einstein Telescope EMR task force of Anne Ubbels, who has taken up the post of general manager of the project office. That office is currently conducting the feasibility study.

A governmental priority

As special envoy, Ben Knapen succeeds Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who recently became Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the new cabinet. Ben Knapen will take up his post this summer.

European support

The Dutch government regards the arrival of the cutting-edge scientific instrument, the Einstein Telescope, in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine as a government priority. Minister Rianne Letschert: “As a government, we want as much international and, in particular, European support as possible for the arrival of the Einstein Telescope. Ben Knapen can play an important role in this as special envoy. He can draw on a large international network, and thus has access at government level.”

Former minister

Ben Knapen served as State Secretary for European Affairs and Development Cooperation between 2010 and 2012 and, ten years later, as Minister of Foreign Affairs for a period. He also served for many years in the Senate and was a member of the Scientific Council for Government Policy.

Ben Knapen originally comes from a background in journalism. For many years, he was a correspondent for NOS Journaal and editor-in-chief of NRC Handelsblad.

A new general director

Anne Ubbels has been working as general manager of the Einstein Telescope EMR project office for several weeks now.

The Einstein Telescope EMR task force, in which the government partners from Belgium, the Netherlands and North Rhine-Westphalia are represented, appointed her to this role. Anne Ubbels is responsible for managing the project office and coordinating the feasibility study, progress on the bid book and scientific collaboration in the run-up to the joint bid by Belgium, the Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia and, in due course, (federal) Germany for the Einstein Telescope. Anne Ubbels is also the point of contact for the task force.

Her experience

Anne Ubbels is an experienced manager working on complex projects in the physical sciences. She has held various positions in the public sector. She subsequently worked at consultancy firm Berenschot as a managing consultant and later as managing director. In 2017, she started working as a freelancer under the name Ubbels+Langerak.