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What is ESS?

What is ESS?

ESS is the abbreviation for the European Spallation Source.

What is the European Spallation Source?

The European Spallation Source is a project to design and construct the most powerful accelerator based pulsed neutron source in the world for research. The estimated cost of the ESS is 1050 M€.

The ESS represents a high priority on an international basis. It is listed on the European Roadmap for Research Infrastructures by the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) as one of the 35 mature projects that are of pan-European interest and of scientific excellence.

Planning of the ESS started more than a decade ago and still it is in progress with the participation of the leading experts of Europe. The ESS will be the world’s first facility that operates on the basis of the long-pulse spallation source concept.

The long-pulse spallation source concept was proposed first by the world famous hungarian neutron scientist Prof. Ferenc Mezei in 1993. Now he plays a key role in the realisation of the ESS.

Hungary has decided to submit a bid to host the ESS and the proposed site is Debrecen.

The domestic site selection proceedure:
16-17 April 2009	The Ministry for National Development and Economy and the city of Debrecen organized a regional conference on the ESS
12 February 2009	The Hungarian National Council of the ESS informed the representatives of diplomatic bodies accredited to Budapest on the Hungarian efforts
25 November 2008	The governmental and non-governmental experts working on the implementation of the ESS in Hungary presented the investment opportunities to representatives of the academic and business communities in the region.
5 November 2008.	Hungarian national council of ESS was founded. President: Mrs. Edit Herczog, member of the European Parliament.
11 September 2008.	The Hungarian government committed to provide the 30% own financing necessary for the proposed implementation of the ESS in Debrecen. Mr. Géza Egyed, state secretary of the Ministry for National Development and Economy was appointed to continue working on the project as a special delegate of the prime minister.
28 August 2008.	Bernard Bigot, high commissioner and chairman of Frances Commission for Atomic Energy (CEA) came to Hungary. The purpose of his visit was to inform himself about the circumstances and conditions for the implementation of the ESS in Debrecen.
24 July 2008.	The advisory committee of Hungarian bid for the ESS held its meeting at the University of Debrecen.
24 July 2008.	Collaboration was initiated between parties in the Hungarian Parliament for the support of bringing the ESS to Debrecen.
July 2008.	Members of the ESFRI Committee visited Debrecen.
17 June 2008.	An international supporters conference was held on the ESS at the University of Debrecen.
30 May 2008.	Physicists from the University of Debrecen and the Debrecen Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Science also participate in the research projects at the world’s largest laboratory of particle physics in the framework of CERN.
29 May 2008.	The Hungarian political parties expressed their support for Debrecen’s bid to host the ESS.
22 May 2008.	The roundtable discussion at one of the sections of the 2nd “Growing Out Hungary” conference organised at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences concerned the possibilities of building the ESS in Debrecen.
26 February 2008.	The Hajdú-Bihar County Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement expressing its support for the building of the neutron research centre in Debrecen.
24 January 2008.	The Spanish-Hungarian cooperation was launched in Brussels at the international presentation in connection with the ESS.
18 April 2007:	The Hungarian Government decided to prepare a two round public proceedure to select a possible site for the ESS in Hungary.
14 June 2007:	Call for tender of the pre-selection proceedure.
DD Month 2007:	Debrecen and Székesfehérvár were selected from six applicants by an international board.
3 October 2007:	Call for tender of the second round.
2 December 2007:	Debrecen was proposed by an international board to the Hungarian Governemnt as the preferred site of the ESS. Székesfehérvár was proposed as reserved site. Debrecen won over Székesfehérvár by a minor difference.
19 December 2007:	The Hungarian Government accepted the proposal of the international board.

Fields of application of the ESS

The beams of low energy neutrons and the advanced instruments provided by the ESS facility will help a very broad range of applications to

study of the location and movement of atoms inside molecules and in condensed materials with very high resolution,

study the magnetic properties of materials,

characterisation of many kinds of objects in situ, in vivo, in real time and for real life applications via non-destructive methods,

do biological, pharmaceutical, chemical, physical, geological, environmental and even archaeological researches,

development and optimisation of new materials for use in nanotechnology, medicine, biotechnology, information technology, industry, energy production and improving the environment,

development of advanced production methods and novel products.

Socio-economical impacts

The ESS project

would host 4-5000 mostly international experts each year for about 40 years,

would place Debrecen and Hungary on the scientific map of the world,

would create 5-600 jobs directly in Debrecen and the region, more indirectly,

would have positive consequences for the society, industry and technology.

Major research institutions in Debrecen with high international reputation

The following institutions are expected to be interested in doing research at the ESS:

Debrecen University

Institute of Nuclear Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences