Brussels grants ERIC status to particle accelerator

The European Commission has approved the legal status of ‘European Research Infrastructure Consortium’ (ERIC) to the European Spallation Source (ESS).

The new status, approved on Wednesday, sees the EU provide the facility with many administrative advantages enjoyed by international organisations and will also assist in successfully implementing the particle accelerator infrastructure project, which is being constructed near Lund, Sweden. The EU has contributed €5m of funding to the preparatory phase of the research infrastructure, and will provide additional support of €20m in 2015 through Horizon 2020.

Commenting, Jim Yeck, ESS director general: “The European Commission’s approval of ESS as an ERIC is a major milestone for the project. This decision establishes ESS as an international organisation with legal standing in all the member countries, and provides the framework for completing the project in collaboration with our partners in those countries.”

The ESS facility is recognised as one of the world’s next-generation sources of neutron beams, which will allow a more detailed probing of materials at the molecular level. The centre is expected to be a major driver for innovation in science and industry in Europe. It will be useful for a range of disciplines, from the construction of industrial motors to developing proteins for medical applications.

The ESS ERIC has 11 founding member states and four observer countries, which aim to become members in the near future.