ETpathfinder Smart Skills Lab shares Einstein Telescope knowledge with businesses
Research into the Einstein Telescope is generating valuable technological expertise. While this presents major opportunities for industry, much of the knowledge fails to reach businesses effectively. The new ETpathfinder Smart Skills Lab in Maastricht aims to change that. Over the coming years, it will develop training modules to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) upskill their workforce.
The Einstein Telescope is a cutting-edge research facility under development, designed to detect gravitational waves with unprecedented precision. The project brings together a wide range of key enabling technologies, including photonics, cryogenics, ultra-high vacuum systems, and data analysis. These technologies are not only essential to science but also increasingly relevant to sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, construction, installation engineering, and logistics. Yet businesses in these areas often struggle to access the latest technological know-how. The Smart Skills Lab seeks to close that gap by developing training programmes.
Perfect place
“We are developing the training programmes in stages,” explains project leader Professor Stefan Hild from Maastricht University. “From simple instructional videos and interactive online tools to hands-on workshops in our laboratories and cleanroom.” ETpathfinder, where many of the technologies for the Einstein Telescope are developed and tested, also serves as a practical learning environment.
During the first year, eleven postdoctoral technology experts will familiarise themselves with the techniques used in ETpathfinder. In the second year, and together with vocational and higher professional education, they will translate this expertise into accessible and practical training content. “We’re starting with a variety of technical domains,” Hild continues. “This will result in dozens of training options, allowing companies to tailor their learning packages to specific needs.”
Usable knowledge
A digital learning platform will make the materials widely accessible. Businesses can engage with the content independently or with guidance. Innovation workshops, site visits, and applied training sessions will ensure that knowledge transfer is not just theoretical but immediately usable. In this way, SMEs gain access to advanced technologies previously reserved for research institutions.
The project also addresses the growing shortage of technically skilled professionals. By linking hands-on education to real-world innovation, the Smart Skills Lab contributes to a more resilient and future-proof labour market. The knowledge developed within ETpathfinder will remain valuable, regardless of where the Einstein Telescope is eventually built.
Maastricht University
The ETpathfinder Smart Skills Lab is an initiative of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at Maastricht University, working in collaboration with 16 partner organisations. While FSE is strongly rooted in fundamental research, it is equally committed to practical application and collaboration with industry. Through ETpathfinder and the Smart Skills Lab, the university demonstrates how academic knowledge can directly drive innovation, education, and regional economic development.
The ETpathfinder Smart Skills Lab receives over €2 million in funding from the European Interreg programme, which promotes cross-border cooperation. The consortium partners are contributing a matching amount. Thanks to this support, regional businesses can rapidly benefit from the technological spin-off of fundamental scientific research, transforming our curiosity about the universe into tangible innovation and economic progress here on Earth.
Overview of all 17 partners
| Netherlands | Belgium | Germany |
| Maastricht University - Maastricht | KU Leuven – Leuven | RWTH Aachen - Aachen |
| Open University – Heerlen | UC Leuven – Heverlee | |
| Eindhoven University of Technology - Eindhoven | University of Antwerp - Antwerp | |
| Vista College - Maastricht | POM Limburg – Hasselt | |
| LIOF – Maastricht | SyntraPXL – Hasselt | |
| Province of Limburg – Maastricht | Ghent University – Ghent | |
| Fontys University of Applied Science – Eindhoven | Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Brussel | |
| Zuyd University of Applied Science - Heerlen | ||
| NWO – Amsterdam |
More info
The Einstein Telescope (ET) is a future underground observatory that will measure gravitational waves and help unravel the universe. Its construction represents not only a scientific milestone but also a huge economic boost: over €2.5 billion in investments, thousands of jobs, and numerous opportunities for companies across a wide range of sectors. The potential construction site is located in the heart of the Flemish-Dutch border region.
As preparation for the ET, the R&D Field Lab ETpathfinder was already built in Maastricht – a unique testing environment for the technologies that will be needed in the telescope. But for many SMEs, access to that knowledge and infrastructure remains a challenge. That is why the ETPathfinder Smart Skills Lab has now been launched: a groundbreaking project that makes technological expertise and skills accessible to companies in the region, enabling them to contribute to the technology of tomorrow.
The project consists of three main pillars:
- Translating technology into practice: 11 “ET Technology Experts” are deployed at universities of applied sciences, universities, and vocational institutions to convert complex knowledge into practical training and business cases. Examples include training in precision engineering or data analysis, developed in close collaboration with institutions such as Fontys, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, UCLL, Vista College, and SyntraPXL.
- Strengthening skills in SMEs: through an online learning platform, training programs and materials are made widely available, allowing companies to learn at their own pace and according to their specific needs. Innovation workshops and short-term business placements make the learning experience concrete and applicable.
- Cross-border collaboration: the project connects Flemish, Dutch, and German partners – including RWTH Aachen – in a network focused on learning, innovation, and technology transfer. This creates a resilient ecosystem that transcends national and sectoral boundaries.
In addition, the acute shortage of technically skilled personnel is being addressed. By fostering close collaboration between education, research, and industry, young people and workers are being prepared for the jobs of the future. And this goes beyond the Einstein Telescope itself, benefiting the broader high-tech industry in the region. The ETPathfinder Smart Skills Lab is therefore more than a training initiative: it is a strategic investment in people, companies,
Also read
-
Teacher Information Points at UM
UM faculties now host Teacher Information Points (TIPs) that offer local, “just-in-time” and on-demand support for teaching staff. The aim is simple: to provide help that is closely connected to day-to-day teaching practice.
-
In Kerkrade, you can listen to the invisible universe
UM and Discovery Museum in Kerkrade make the Einstein Telescope understandable for everyone.
-
UM to play a more prominent role in Dutch scientific infrastructure
Eleven consortia from various scientific disciplines are set to launch projects of great value to science. The Dutch government is making a total of €197 million available for this purpose. Scientists from Maastricht University (UM) are closely involved in seven of the eleven projects.
