Super Laser in Szeged on the Drawing Board 6 April 2010
The preparation of the ELI super laser project in Szeged may commence within the framework of the Economic Development Operational Programme of the New Hungary Development Plan with the help of EU funding amounting to 1 billion HUF.
The European Union has listed 44 major research facilities in its strategic plan on research infrastructure. ELI (Extreme Light Infrastructure), a high energy laser research facility, is one of these, which, pursuant to the EU’s decision, will be jointly developed within the framework of cooperation established between Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania. This is in many regards a pioneering initiative; a scientific investment of this magnitude has never before been carried out in the central-eastern European region, or any new member state.
Developments will be launched at three various sites in the initial phase. The tender approved funding amounting to 992 million HUF for the site in Szeged is aimed at planning and preparing the laser facility to be constructed in Öthalom (Five Hills), the former Soviet military barracks. ELI HU Development Management Non-profit Public Benefit Company Ltd. founded in collaboration with the University of Szeged and the Municipality of Szeged is the project host, which company the National Office for Research and Technology will also join in the near future.
The investment itself is expected to begin in 2011; construction and development costs are also financed from EU funding within the framework of the Economic Development Operational Programme; consequently Hungary submitted its request concerning the modification of this operational programme to Brussels in March 2010. The total cost of this project amounts to nearly 245 million EUR, which is why it will later on be necessary to submit a request to the European Union during the preparatory phase to classify this development as a major project.
By implementing this project, major opportunities will open for young researchers, since there are serious challenges and ample opportunities for Hungarian researchers even in the planning phase, which researchers may play an equally important role once the laser facility is up and running. Moreover, research conducted with this facility may also open new horizons in, for example, the field of energy, materials research and transformation, as well as medical sciences.