Big Science Sweden steering board meets at GSI/FAIR

31.03.2025 |

A delegation of Big Science Sweden visited FAIR and GSI recently. The delegation included team members, the Steering Committee, and representatives from the Swedish division of the international corporation GE Healthcare. The aim of “Big Science Sweden” is to connect Swedish industry, universities, and research institutes with Big Science research organizations.

FAIR/GSI welcomed the Big Science Sweden Steering Board for its General Board Meeting, marking an important milestone in Sweden’s ongoing contributions to the FAIR project. As a key shareholder alongside Finland, Sweden plays a vital role in FAIR’s funding and scientific collaborations, with institutions across the country driving innovation in the experiments NUSTAR, PANDA, APPA, and other programs. The delegation included representatives from Sweden’s leading research bodies, such as the Lulea University of Technology, Uppsala University, Lund University, and Chalmers University of Technology.

The Scientific Managing Director of FAIR and GSI, Professor Thomas Nilsson, who is originally from Sweden and came to Darmstadt last year from Chalmers University of Technology, said “I am extremely delighted with the decision by Big Science Sweden to choose FAIR/GSI as their location for the Steering board meeting. The visit of the Board underlines Sweden’s vital role and continued interest in FAIR’s scientific and technological endeavor. Through contributions to experiments and accelerators components, Sweden continues to push the boundaries of fundamental research, strengthening international collaboration and shaping the future of scientific discovery.”

The Technical Managing Director of FAIR and GSI, Jörg Blaurock, stated: “The visit of the Big Science Sweden Steering Board to FAIR highlights Sweden’s deep expertise in accelerator technology and instrumentation. Through strong collaboration between research institutions and industry, Big Science Sweden plays a vital role in driving technological advancements that will shape the future of scientific exploration at FAIR. This visit further strengthens our shared commitment to innovation, opening exciting new opportunities for Swedish science and industry to contribute to cutting-edge developments in global research.”

Dr. Katharina Stummeyer, the Administrative Managing Director of FAIR and GSI, said “Sweden's commitment to FAIR, reinforced by the visit of the Big Science Sweden Steering Board, is a wonderful example of active international partnership in research and technology. Together with our strong Swedish partners, we are advancing innovations, technology transfer, and scientific excellence with FAIR, creating new opportunities for collaboration between research and industry.”

The General Board Meeting kicked off with an introduction to FAIR and GSI, followed by a visit to the construction site, where participants witnessed the impressive progress. The delegation then took part in a guided tour of GSI, providing deeper insights into the cutting-edge research infrastructure and the scientific achievements.

Björn Ekelund of Ericsson Group and the Chair of Big Science Sweden said: “Visiting FAIR and GSI was a fantastic experience. Seeing the scale and ambition of these world-class facilities up close was truly inspiring. As Chair of Big Science Sweden, I am proud of the components, knowledge and expertise that Swedish researchers and companies have contributed to the FAIR project thus far. I hope that we can strengthen our collaboration with both FAIR and GSI, to open up further exciting opportunities for Swedish science and industry.”

Dr Fredrik Engelmark, Swedish Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) for FAIR and GSI stated: “Visiting FAIR and GSI and engaging directly with key stakeholders has been incredibly valuable. The facility's cutting-edge research and advanced technology provide excellent opportunities for collaboration. Swedish industry possesses the expertise and innovation needed to contribute to both ongoing projects and future developments.”

The meeting emphasized Sweden’s strategic role in FAIR, future collaborations, and technological developments, reaffirming its commitment to research and innovation within the project. (BP)

Contact

FFor more information on Big Science Sweden interested persons can contact Frederik Engelmark (fredrik.engelmark(at)bigsciencesweden.se) and for international cooperation activities with Sweden and Swedish institutions please contact Dr. Pradeep Ghosh (International Cooperations Unit) via the e-mail international-cooperations(at)fair-center.eu.