The Øresund Region seeks world-class research

The Swedish government joins the competition for one of the world’s largest research institutions, ESS. The aim is a location in Lund 40 km east of Copenhagen.

The Swedish government has decided work on locating the research institution ESS in Sweden. The choice has fallen on the Scanian medieval city Lund 40 km east of Copenhagen and in the middle of the Øresund Region, writes Børsen.

ESS stands for European Spallation Source. It operates a particle accelerator the same size as the one that Swiss CERN has. A particle accelerator screens objects by means of neutrons to chart out their inner structure.

”There is a need for three such plants. The USA and Japan will soon start building, and there is a consensus that a third plant is needed, which is to be located in Europe. We are aiming at having Sweden to host it,” says Sweden’s Minister of Education and Research Lars Lejonborg.

An ESS plant is a multi-scientific project working with material science, biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy technology and IT hardware.

The costs for the establishment of the plant are estimated to EUR 1.2 billion over a ten year period. Sweden is to pay 30 per cent of the expenses and the remaining costs will be covered by contributions from the EU and other European countries. Sweden is also to be responsible for 30 per cent of the operation costs during the forty years that the plant is estimated to be in operation.

When the plant is finished it is estimated to employ 400 researchers. Besides that the plan is to accommodate another 5000 researchers annually.

Denmark has supported the Swedish initiative with a location in the Øresund Region.

Source: www.copcap.com