FOM and Eindhoven University of Technology sign a memorandum of understanding about relocation Rijnhuizen
The Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter (FOM) and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 6 July about the relocation of the FOM Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen to the TU/e campus. With the signing at Rijnhuizen, rector magnificus Hans van Duijn of TU/e and FOM director Wim van Saarloos formalised the agreements to expand the current Rijnhuizen Institute into a new FOM Institute for fundamental energy research at Eindhoven. This Memorandum clearly underlines the commitment of FOM and TU/e to promoting energy research as a key aspect of their research programmes.
National coordinating role
"By setting up an institute for fundamental energy research, FOM wants to assume a national coordinating role in the field of energy research", said FOM director Wim van Saarloos during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. The main building of the future institute for fundamental energy research will be located in a yet to be designed complex on the TU/e Science Park, near to the existing physics building N-laag. The plan is that the institute will open its doors in 2015.
The existing research lines of FOM Rijnhuizen in the area of fusion energy and nanolayers for the computer chip industry will be expanded with new groups that will focus on research into alternative energy sources. The new energy institute shall fulfil a national coordinating role. That will be realised by means of focus groups (annexes) at various Dutch universities. The institute for fundamental energy research shall collaborate closely with existing energy research institutes. Collaboration will also be sought with other disciplines, such as chemistry, the life sciences and the technical sciences.
Over the coming months, FOM will search for a new director to shape the mission and structure of the new energy institute with its main location and decentralised focus groups. For the next few years, this person will head up the existing institute at Rijnhuizen and set up the collaboration between the new Institute, TU/e and the other universities. The current director of Rijnhuizen, Aart Kleyn, will continue to be active on a part time basis within the scientific field of plasma wall interactions and as an adviser to the executive board. His new principal responsibility will be the directorship of the Hoff Institute for Molecular Chemistry at the University of Amsterdam. Kleyn shall take up his new position in the autumn.
The FOM Executive Board will take the final decision about the intended relocation of the Institute for Plasma Physics once the financing of the new laboratory is certain and the works council has agreed to all of the plans.
Information
For further information please contact:
Dr. Wim van Saarloos, Director FOM, telephone +31 (0)30 600 12 08.
Prof. C.J. (Hans) van Duijn, rector magnificus Eindhoven University of Technology, telephone +31 (0)40 247 22 40.
Gieljan de Vries, Head of Public Information, FOM Institute Rijnhuizen, telephone +31 (0)30 609 69 02.