'World-Class' Multipurpose Synchrotron Radiation Accelerator Project Kicks Off

Ministry of Science and ICT Initiates Call for Designation of Lead Institutions and Project Directors

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The construction project of a world-class multipurpose synchrotron radiation accelerator, highly utilized in basic and fundamental research development as well as advanced industrial fields, is set to be actively promoted.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 18th that it has designated the Korea Basic Science Institute as the lead organization for the multipurpose synchrotron radiation accelerator construction project, which is being pursued to support industrial research and development (R&D) and pioneering basic and fundamental research, and has begun recruiting the project director. The multipurpose synchrotron radiation accelerator construction project’s long-term strategy and roadmap were finalized at the National Science and Technology Advisory Council meeting on March 24 last year, in response to the need to strengthen competitiveness in basic and fundamental R&D and the urgent demand for rapid expansion of large accelerator infrastructure highly utilized in advanced industrial fields.

In May last year, after a local government competition, Ochang in Chungbuk was selected as the optimal site. Additionally, the preliminary feasibility study was passed at the end of April. The project will be constructed over six years from this month until June 2027, with a total budget of 1.0454 trillion KRW. It plans to build a high-performance accelerator (beam emittance of 0.1 nm·rad or less), 10 initial beamlines including three industrial priority support beamlines (with a maximum capacity of 40 beamlines), enabling future advanced research infrastructure and responding to industrial demand.

Initially, special facilities such as the accelerator building and research building, along with support facilities (total floor area of 69,400㎡), will be established on a basic site of only 26㎡, and later, additional cluster support facility land (280,000㎡) will be developed. The Ministry of Science and ICT explained that considering the domestic large-scale research infrastructure construction and operation status and project support capabilities, the Korea Basic Science Institute was designated as the lead organization. The project director recruitment announcement will be made on the 19th. After evaluation by the project director candidate recommendation committee, qualified candidates will be recommended without ranking to the project promotion committee, followed by document screening, presentation, and interview assessments to evaluate project and organizational management capabilities, expertise, activity capabilities, and project promotion strategies.

Minister Lim Hye-sook of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "For the successful construction of advanced research infrastructure involving massive budgets, close cooperation among related organizations and the selection of a competent project director are very important," adding, "We will grant the project director maximum autonomy in organization, personnel, and budget to fully demonstrate their capabilities and provide institutional support such as enacting related regulations."

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