ESS Scandinavia’s fourth Round-Table, today concluded in Prague, was dominated by good news. There is now broad acceptance that the ESS site decision will be taken before the summer.

The European Spallation Source will be the world’s leading centre for materials research and life science with neutrons. ESS Scandinavia proposes that it is built in Lund in southern Scandinavia.

ESS Scandinavia’s fourth Round-Table, held at the Charles University in Prague, was held in order to inform about the progress of the Scandinavian ESS bid and to discuss future directions. Several important new items were presented at the conference:

• Update of the Scandinavian financial offer – Sweden gives a 50% binding guarantee.
  As presented by the Swedish Minister for Research and Higher Education Lars Leijonborg yesterday, the Swedish government gives a binding guarantee of 50 percent of the ESS construction costs. This includes the already committed Swedish contribution of 30 percent, the Danish contribution of 12,5 percent announced two weeks ago, future contributions from other Nordic and Baltic countries, and participation by a business consortium. It includes a cash contribution of at least 40 percent, to allow the build-up of a strong central project team. Sweden expects other European countries to finance the remaining 50 percent, welcoming in-kind contributions.
• Clarification of the site decision-making process.
  There is now broad agreement between European countries on how the ESS decision-making process will progress. The Czech government, currently holding the EU Presidency, has taken the initiative to set up an ESS Core Group of European countries that have an interest in building and operating the ESS. Two meetings of the Core Group are planned, in the fringes of the EU Competitiveness Council: the 4-5 May in Prague and the 28-29 May in Brussels. The aim is to reach conclusions on the site by the second meeting.
  The decision-making process will be based on the findings of the ESS Site Review Group, that presented its evaluation of the three competing ESS sites in September 2008. The Site Review Group drew the conclusions that Lund provides excellent conditions to attract international scientists, scientific and industrial environments that are very amenable to ESS. It also concluded that the MAXIV neighbourhood will be an advantage, and that ESS Lund is well prepared to proceed towards construction without delay.
• Support from Norway
  Norway now formally supports that the ESS is built in Lund. This was also announced by Minister Lars Leijonborg on Monday.
• MAXIV synchrotron funding finalized
  A consortium agreement has been signed in order to fund the construction of the MAX IV high brilliance synchrotron laboratory in Lund. Construction work will start in 2010.  MAX IV will be one of the world’s most brilliant synchrotron facilities, constituting the perfect scientific complement to the ESS. Together, the ESS and the MAXIV will be a world-leading centre of excellence for materials research and life science.

- I am very glad that there is now extensive support for when and how the ESS decision will be taken. Europe has a unique opportunity to take a far-sighted decision on one of the largest planned European research facilities. All preconditions exist today for a swift decision on the site before the summer, says Colin Carlile, Director of the ESS Scandinavia Secretariat.

- A decision on ESS will pave the way for the pan-European ESS design review. It will also mean that European decision-makers can move ahead on other large-scale European research projects, essential for the future growth and welfare of the continent.

The Round-Table was attended by 29 participants from 16 European countries, as well as the Nordic Investment Bank.

The Round-Table was jointly chaired by Denmark and Sweden. Recently the Danish and Swedish governments signed an agreement to co-host the ESS, if it is built in Lund.