The ILL prepares for the future

The ILL 6th intergovernmental protocol, signed in September 2021, has set the political milestones for the period 2023-33. This makes it possible to secure the planning of the Institute's activities, which are essential elements for developing the strategy for the next ten years, while taking into account the needs of European scientists.

In 2022 the ILL Associates established a working group to provide advice on developing a strategy to make the best possible scientific use of the ILL within the scope of the 6th protocol. A meeting of this “ILL strategy post 2023 working group” took place at the German Embassy in Paris on 12 and 13 September and was opened by his Excellency, Ambassador Hans-Dieter Lucas. It included a workshop gathering representatives from the scientific council, scientific members, user community, other European neutron sources, and the Associates and ministries. 

Within the next couple of years, a two-decade campaign of improvements to the ILL reactor and instruments will be complete, positioning researchers to carry out wholly new types of experiments.  

“The ILL is in an excellent position”, says Dr. Harald R. Haakh, the chair of the working group. “Its Associates have provided more than 40 million euros in special funding for the ongoing Endurance upgrade programme, enabling the ILL to remain in a world leading position in neutron research until the end of the decade. Now our challenge is to ensure that the modernized infrastructure is exploited optimally.” 

Paul Langan, who attended the workshop along with Andreas Meyer and Jacques Jestin from the ILL said “I was energized by the positive discussion at this meeting. One thing that struck me was the clear messages that I heard from representatives of the user community. As a close partner for high-end scientific and technological collaboration, the ILL should maintain and provide access to a world-class suite of instruments, of which several are world-leading and some unique. After Endurance is complete, the strategic focus of the ILL must be on maximizing the science we can deliver from our unprecedented capabilities. However, the foundation for this optimum scientific exploitation must be the reliable delivery of neutrons to the research community at the level we have committed to.”