With that statement, European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans concluded his visit to the ET Pathfinder and the Einstein Telescope project office on Friday, March 10. Frans Timmermans was among the guests in Maastricht at the invitation of the (Dutch) Province of Limburg. Here he was updated on the status and planning of the telescope and guests were given an explanation about the ET Pathfinder.

Magic of gravity wave research
Stefan Hild, professor of experimental physics at Maastricht University and project leader of the ET Pathfinder, spoke about the "magic" of gravity wave research for science. He outlined how the research work for the ET Pathfinder is laying a solid foundation for the Einstein Telescope. Meanwhile, 25 universities from 7 countries are collaborating within the ET Pathfinder. There is also considerable interest from Japan and the United States.

Phd student Zeb van Ranst used examples to illustrate that in the future the Einstein Telescope will yield new technologies that can be used outside the scientific field.

Flanders visiting
Later that day, a Flemish delegation was a guest at the Einstein Telescope project office. At the invitation of Deputy Stephan Satijn, the Belgian-Limburg Governor Jos Lantmeesters and Deputy Ann Schevenels of Flemish Brabant, among others, had come to Maastricht.

Again, director Guido Derks explained the cross-border cooperation, which is the basis for presenting a strong bid book in a few years. He mentioned the economic and societal opportunities created by the arrival of the Einstein Telescope. Assistant Professor Gideon Koekoek of Maastricht University took the gathering into that magical world of scientific opportunities and challenges.