Saxony and the Italian region of Sardinia intend to seal their joint bid for the European research project known as the Einstein Telescope next week. A ceremony is planned for 17 July at the Ethnographic Museum in Nuoro, Sardinia, according to the Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden), a partner in the bid. A letter of intent had already been signed in Rome earlier this year.
The cooperation is based on the so-called double-L configuration: the Einstein Telescope would consist of two complementary L-shaped interferometers at the Lausitz and Sardinia sites. On the German side, TU Dresden and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are backing the cooperation.
A window into the early universe
The Einstein Telescope is designed to measure and analyse gravitational waves in space. The project is considered a decisive step in the study of the universe: with it, researchers hope to detect the collision of black holes, for example, and gain insights into the beginning of the universe.
Three internationally recognised regions are currently in the running to build the research infrastructure: the Lausitz, Sardinia, and the Euregio Meuse-Rhine region in the tri-border area of Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia), the Netherlands and Belgium. A decision on the location is expected in the second half of 2027.