Canada establishes a ‘Neutron Partnership’ with ILL

Researchers from Canada can now apply for neutron beam time to perform experiments at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL).

Canada, represented by McMaster University, and ILL have been working together over the last year to establish a Neutron Partnership. The contract for this partnership will be signed by the end of the year, which allows researchers based in Canada to now submit proposals for beam time in 2027 (deadline midnight 15 September 2026). The contract will last for six years until 2032.

Canada traditionally has a strong research community using neutrons for cutting-edge science and innovation. Ever since the closure of the research reactor at Chalk River, Canada has been looking to secure access for its scientists to neutron facilities in the US and Europe, while developing its own reactor source at McMaster and establishing a coherent roadmap for neutrons in the future. The most recent effort has been driven by a coalition of 16 Canadian universities, with support from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

Bruce Gaulin, professor at McMaster University and one of the leaders of the CFI initiative, says: “The international partnerships are essential to getting access for Canada to state-of-the-art neutron facilities and ILL is a key part of this portfolio. The ILL is already well-known to many Canadian researchers – and I expect we will easily integrate into the user community at ILL.”

ILL, as an international facility, is continuously looking to develop new partnerships as part of its strategy for a sustainable future. Ken Andersen, Director General of ILL, confirms: “We are delighted that Canada can now establish this formal partnership with ILL. There are very few communities of the size, maturity and quality of Canada’s that we could hope to attract to ILL and their research programmes and experiments will make a significant contribution to the science and innovation produced at ILL.”

Researchers who are new to the ILL can find all the necessary information in the 'FOR ILL USERS' section of this website, in particular:

While Canada is becoming an ILL Partner country, it will treated in the same way as the Associate and Scientific Member countries in terms of beam time allocation.