The FOM has decided on Eindhoven on account of the expected synergy benefits with the energy research present within TU/e, as with the Eindhoven Energy Institute, which is to be started before long. In addition, the FOM hopes to establish stronger ties with education and to enhance the possibilities for training young scientists. There were five universities competing for the accommodation of the institute. In its bid, TU/e was supported inter alia by the municipality of Eindhoven and the province of North Brabant. Over the next few months the FOM will be conducting negotiations with the parties involved; it expects a final decision to be reached by the middle of May.

The institute, at present still accommodated in Nieuwegein, will be developed in Eindhoven to become a FOM Institute for Energy Research. According to the FOM, intentions are for the renewed institute to become the central axis of a joint venture with university working parties and national as well as international partners in the area of fundamental energy research. An entirely new building will be erected for the institute on the TU/e campus, which will be linked with the Applied Physics Department.

“Of course it is fantastic that the FOM institute is coming to Eindhoven”, is the first reaction of TU/e professor Richard van de Sanden, who has carried the load for the Eindhoven bid vis-à-vis the FOM. “This will more emphatically put the issue of Energy, a major challenge for the coming decades, on the map of our region. The institute will focus especially on fundamental matters, and conduct daring research on priority areas that have already been broached in Eindhoven -think of solar cells and nuclear fusion- as well as on new subjects such as Solar Fuels.”

“The flag at TU/e will be flown at full-mast. It is great news for the Brainport region and for TU/e”, says TU/e Executive Board spokesman Peter van Dam. “This move will make a tremendous contribution to the realization of one of TU/e’s strategic objectives: building up an internationally prominent education and research center in the area of sustainable energy.”

A small section of the FOM-Rijnhuizen will not be moving to Eindhoven, for that matter. The infrared free-electron laser facility FELIX/FELICE, which counts approximately twelve staff members, will go to Radboud University Nijmegen. (IJ)/.