Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator, Smooth Progress from Preliminary Feasibility Study Application to Cooperation System

▲Pohang University of Science and Technology Accelerator Laboratory and Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator. The long structure extending in the background is the Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator, which is approximately 1.1 km in length.
[Photo by Pohang University of Science and Technology]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Junho] The government is accelerating the construction project of the multipurpose synchrotron radiation accelerator, known as the "dream microscope," with a scale of 1 trillion won. Following the preliminary feasibility study application on the 14th, on the 21st, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chungcheongbuk-do and Cheongju City to establish a cooperative system for early construction.

The Ministry of Science and ICT agreed through the MOU with local governments such as Chungbuk and Cheongju to cooperate on securing and developing the synchrotron radiation accelerator site, fostering and supporting the accelerator users' council, establishing related research and industrial infrastructure within the site, and creating residential and cultural spaces for accelerator personnel.

By stakeholder, the Ministry of Science and ICT will oversee the overall project plan as the construction entity, secure the budget, organize and support the users' council, and ensure operational efficiency with other domestic synchrotron radiation accelerators.

Chungbuk and Cheongju will secure budgets to support the accelerator site of 520,000㎡, power supply lines (154KV, 40MVA 2 circuits, underground lines), and access roads (3.0 km). They will also assist with administrative tasks such as coordination with the site owner and permits.

The government designated Cheongju City as the construction site for the synchrotron radiation accelerator on the 8th. Besides Cheongju, three other local governments competed for this project, which involves an investment of 1 trillion won.

The synchrotron radiation accelerator is a state-of-the-art facility that analyzes the structure of ultra-fine materials using "synchrotron radiation," a bright light emitted when electrons are accelerated to nearly the speed of light at 300,000 km per second. It produces light 100 times brighter than sunlight, allowing observation of changes in nanomaterial properties, protein structures, and cell division processes.

After selecting the site, the government applied for the preliminary feasibility study on the 14th. A preliminary review, including a technical evaluation, will be conducted over about five weeks, followed by the main feasibility study. The main study will include an economic evaluation and is expected to take about seven months. Afterward, detailed design will proceed for about one year, with construction expected to begin in 2022.

▲4th generation synchrotron accelerator.

Choi Ki-young, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "The construction of the multipurpose synchrotron radiation accelerator is a policy to enhance competitiveness in future advanced industries. We will do our best to ensure the project proceeds smoothly through close cooperation with local governments and related organizations."

Lee Si-jong, Governor of Chungcheongbuk-do, stated, "We will actively cooperate not only for the development of Chungbuk but also to support advanced industries and strengthen scientific and technological competitiveness at the national level, taking advantage of attracting the multipurpose synchrotron radiation accelerator."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.