8 July 2025
The High-Brilliance Neutron Source Phase I (HBS-I) has reached an important milestone. The neutron source project has been shortlisted for the new federal funding program for large research infrastructures. Forschungszentrum Jülich is working closely with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon on the project. Being included in the shortlist is an important signal of the scientific and societal relevance of HBS-I.
"We are very pleased that HBS-I has been included in the shortlist for the new federal funding program. The innovative and compact accelerator-driven neutron source will open up new possibilities for the materials and life sciences with highly brilliant neutron beams and secure the regional supply of important medical radioisotopes," explains Dr. Paul Zakalek from the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS-2), coordinator of the project.
"With flexible, demand-oriented access to experiments, we want to accelerate progress in the chemical, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries. The HBS-I will strengthen Germany's technological sovereignty and provide a significant economic boost to the region and beyond," says Prof. Stephan Förster, managing director of JCNS.
A total of nine projects successfully passed the multi-stage prioritization process of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR, in German) and were selected for the shortlist. Inclusion on the shortlist does not explicitly imply a commitment to funding, but it is an important signal that the projects are a priority for research policy and have the potential to make a major contribution to the performance of the German science system.
