Einstein Telescope Collaboration

Why build the Einstein Telescope?

With the Einstein Telescope project, the government wants to support the development of knowledge, education and talent. It will also give a boost to the economy of southern Limburg, whose population is both shrinking and ageing. The project falls under the remit of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW). It is funded from the National Growth Fund (in Dutch).

In 2027 the Board of Government Representatives (BGR) will decide on the exact location of the Einstein Telescope. Various European governments have joined the BGR. If the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (which covers the ‘Zweckverband’ Region Aachen in Germany, the southern part of the Dutch province of Limburg, the Belgian provinces of Limburg and Liège, and the German-speaking community of Belgium) is chosen, construction will begin in 2028, with completion planned for 2035.

Cost of the Einstein Telescope

Euregio Meuse-Rhine is a longstanding partnership between the Netherlands, Belgium and the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia. The countries are also sharing the costs of the project. The Einstein Telescope will be operational for at least 50 years. The costs of construction are estimated at €2.3 billion.

Benefits of the Einstein Telescope

The Einstein Telescope will support the development of knowledge, education and talent. It will also give an economic boost to the southern part of the province of Limburg. This region is affected by a shrinking population. The main benefits: 

• New knowledge and discoveries: the Einstein Telescope will be able to measure gravitational waves up to 100 times better than existing instruments. This will give more insight into the formation of the universe and planets like Earth. 
• New technology: Dutch businesses and universities are working together to develop the highly specialised instruments required, such as lasers and mirrors.
• More jobs in the region: the project will create 2,000 jobs in the region, mainly in construction, engineering and technology.
• Education: schools and universities in de region are developing lessons and courses that tie in with the project. This prepares young people for a future in research, technology and physics.
• Innovation for daily life: the technologies developed for this project, such as faster microchips or more accurate measuring devices, could also benefit us in our daily lives.
• International cooperation: major projects like the Einstein Telescope strengthen cooperation between countries. Through joint investments, Europe contributes to scientific advances.

An observatory deep under the ground 

The Einstein Telescope is a measurement instrument deep underground where scientists can observe the effects of gravitational waves. These are vibrations that occur in the universe when stars collide, for instance. The Einstein Telescope will measure these gravitational waves when they reach Earth, using lasers located in 10km-long tunnels some 250 metres underground. Measuring gravitational waves will help us find out more about the universe, such as how it began and what happened right after the Big Bang. 

Ideal location for the project

The plan is to build the Einstein Telescope in the border region between the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany (Euregio Meuse-Rhine). Here, almost no vibrations caused by human activities above ground reach underground. This is important in order to avoid interference with the measurements. Only a few locations in Europe are suitable for the Einstein Telescope. And the Euregio Meuse-Rhine is one of them.