Einstein Telescope, over 17 million for urban regeneration and laboratory
The Italian bid to host the interferometer to be installed at the Sos Enattos mine site is enriched by two new proposals
Key points
From the urban regeneration of municipalities, for which more than 7 million euros are earmarked, to the international research centre funded with around 10 million euros. These are the two new elements characterising the Einstein Telescope project that sees Italia, with the mining site of Sos Enattos di Lula (in the Nuoro area) the Italian candidate to host the interferometer to be installed at a depth of 100 metres for the study of gravitational waves.
7.4 million for urban regeneration
7.4 million euros have been allocated by the Region to the municipalities of Lula, Bitti, Onanì and Orune to support urban regeneration projects and on private buildings that will be leased to staff involved in the management and execution of works.
The allocation comes after a series of meetings and discussions, coordinated by the Region's presidency, between the administrators of the four municipalities and the Region. "The Einstein Telescope," emphasises Francesco Spanedda, Regional Councillor for Local Authorities, "is not only a scientific candidacy of international value, but a political choice of territorial development that directly involves the local communities.
10 million for research centre
However, that is not all. On the path to supporting the candidature of the Italia site to host the Einstein Telescope there is also another piece. It is the publication in the European Official Journal of the call for tenders addressed to companies for the construction of the Et-SunLab (Einstein Telescope Sardinia Underground Laboratory) research centre, which will be built in the area of the Sos Enattos mine. The project is financed with approximately EUR 10 million by the Region of Sardinia and an equal amount divided between the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, the National Institute of Astrophysics and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
The Region: important economic spin-offs
"We are moving from words to deeds. The construction of the Et-SunLab research centre, like the recent announcement of the opening of an Ingv office in Nuoro,' comments Alessandra Todde, President of the Region, 'is proof of how even the mere fact of being a candidate to host the Einstein Telescope has direct effects on our communities. The centre, which will be set up and operate regardless of the outcome of the award, will bring dozens of scholars to settle in the area, with spin-offs for the local economy and development'.
