€1.8 million invested to modernise two key instruments for European research at the ILL
Press release on the occasion of the visit of the Comitee of the European Funds directorate of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region. Short video on the visit here.
At the heart of Grenoble's scientific 'presqu’île', the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), a world leader in neutron science and technology, is strengthening its research capabilities by modernising two major instruments (D11 and NeXT-MoTo) to address major challenges in health, energy transition and sustainable technologies. Supported by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the European Union, this project represents a €1.8 million investment under the CPER EPN 2030 (State-Region Plan Contract). It contributes directly to European scientific and technological sovereignty by maintaining key skills in Europe, providing independent access to cutting-edge analysis capabilities, and consolidating a competitive innovation ecosystem in the heart of Grenoble.
D11: a powerful tool for deciphering the mechanisms of life
An iconic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instrument, D11 now offers significantly improved performance for exploring biological structures and processes at the nanoscale. This development makes it possible to understand the structures and interactions at the heart of biomolecular complexes under physiological conditions, including cell membranes and nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles - crucial advances for the development of new treatments, for example against neurodegenerative diseases.
NeXT-MoTo: neutron imaging at the service of the energy transition
A neutron imaging instrument with additional X-ray imaging capabilities, NeXT-MoTo has now been upgraded to offer advanced imaging modes and enable real-time examination of operating devices such as batteries and energy storage systems. This approach provides researchers with unprecedented insight into materials and their behaviour, which is essential for designing the energy solutions of tomorrow.
Strategic investments to support scientific innovation in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The modernisation of D11 and NeXT-MoTo is part of the CPER EPN 2030 programme, which mobilises funding from the French government, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Grenoble Alpes Métropole and the European Union. The CPER EPN 2030 represents a total of €12 million, divided equally between the ILL and the ESRF, the two main scientific facilities on the EPN campus in Grenoble. The operation alone represents €1.8 million invested in the modernisation of the two instruments, demonstrating the collective desire to support excellence in research in the service of major societal challenges.
"By supporting the modernisation of the D11 and NeXT-MoTo instruments, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region is reaffirming its commitment to scientific research and innovation in its territory. Grenoble is one of the most dynamic ecosystems in Europe, and these state-of-the-art facilities will contribute directly to meeting two major challenges of our century: improving the health of tomorrow and accelerating the energy transition." - Nicolas Daragon, Deputy Vice-President for Finance, General Administration, Human Resources and European Funds – Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region
The ILL, a key player in European science for over 50 years
Since 1967, the Institut Laue-Langevin has been a world leader in neutron science and technology. Its high-flux reactor provides the most intense neutron beams in the world, enabling a large community of researchers – both academic and industrial – to advance their work in strategic fields such as health, energy, the environment, quantum materials and the information technologies of the future. Every year, more than 1,500 international scientists come to Grenoble to use the ILL's unique set of 43 neutron instruments, including D11 and NeXT-MoTo, which are true pillars of European scientific innovation.
‘Thanks to the support of the Region and the European Union, we now have even more powerful tools to explore matter, develop new medical treatments and design the energy technologies of tomorrow. This is a strategic investment for European science and for the concrete solutions it brings to society.’ - Jacques Jestin, Director France and Scientific Director of the ILL
‘The modernisation and optimisation of its infrastructure and scientific instruments is a key aspect for the ILL and its community of scientific users. Thanks to strategic investments such as this one, the ILL is now, more than ever, ready to contribute to European competitiveness as a pillar of European neutron science.’ - Ken Andersen, Director of the ILL
Contact: communication@ill.fr