The Swedish Minister of Research and Higher Education will resign from the Swedish Government.

- Lars Leijonborg’s dedication has been crucial for getting the ESS to Lund. ESS Scandinavia wants to thank him for his deep committment to the ESS. This firm committment from him and the Swedish Government has been essential for getting a decision on the ESS site, and has therefore been of great importance to European science, says Colin Carlile, Director of ESS Scandinavia.

Two weeks ago, Lars Leijonborg could announce, at the ESS Scandinavia Secretariat in Lund, that the ESS will be built in Lund. Yesterday in Madrid, he and the Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation Christina Garmendia signed the Spanish-Swedish agreement on ESS.

In early 2007, the Swedish Government took the decision to offer hosting the ESS. In 2007, the Government also mandated the Lund University to set up the ESS Scandinavia Secretariat, and appointed Coli Carlile as the Director and Allan Larsson as the Government’s Chief Negotiator.

- Lars Leijonborg and the Swedish Government made a brave decision back in 2007. Two years later, that bravey has born fruit, comments Colin Carlile.

The successor of Lars Leijonborg will be announced in a couple of days time.