Opening for Denmark: Co-hosting European Research Facility

– Competition is afoot for being the host region for a planned European research facility known as ESS. Denmark has a clear interest in the facility being placed in the Øresund region, both in terms of research and business potential. So the Government will now make an active effort to support Sweden for that purpose, says Helge Sander, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation.

The Government's decision should be seen in light of an expected intensification of European discussions in the latter half of 2008 on the possible establishment of ESS. The establishment is estimated to take close on ten years and cost about DKK 11 billion.

At the same time, the Government has decided to examine the specific conditions for Denmark participating – and possibly co-hosting – ESS in the Øresund Region.

Further to this, negotiations will be started with the Swedish authorities, now working for Sweden to be the host country for ESS (European Spallation Source), which will be the world's leading facility for neutron-based research. The facility will be an advanced super-magnifier, intended for materials and biological and medical systems.

To be in charge of the negotiations, the Government has established a special task force, chaired by Michael Christiansen, former Permanent Secretary of State and retiring Director of the Royal Theatre, and also including Jørgen Kjems, Head of Department, Technical University of Denmark.

In addition, government officials from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation will take part in the task force. A minor group of experts will also be established, consisting of researchers and industry representatives, together with an interdepartmental reference group.

– There are various possibilities of Danish involvement in an ESS research facility in the Øresund Region. To determine the political support for any small- or large-scale Danish commitment, it is essential that we have clarified, in particular, the economic conditions and the Danish collaborative potential inherent in the project.

– The establishment of ESS in Southern Sweden will be significant not merely to the Øresund Region, but all Denmark, and will provide new opportunities for the other Scandinavian countries and the Baltic Region as a whole, says Helge Sander.

Science Minister Helge Sander can be contacted via the Ministry's Information Manager, Allan Boldt, tel.: +45 33 92 97 39, abo@vtu.dk.