The rector of the University of Granada, Pedro Mercado, and the Councilor for University, Research and Innovation of the Junta de Andalucía, José Carlos Gómez Villamandos, have visited the UGR-DONES research centre, located in Escúzar, in an event that was also attended by Ángel Ibarra Sánchez, director of IFMIF-DONES Spain, and the subdelegate of the Government in Granada, José Antonio Montilla Martos, among other authorities.

This scientific-technical space, funded by the Junta de Andalucía with an investment of 14.4 million, belongs to the University of Granada and is located in the Metropolitan Industrial and Technological Park of Escúzar (Granada).

The centre, which is already in operation, carries out R&D of excellence in support of this strategic infrastructure, energy research and innovation and the development of new materials. In addition, the facilities have been planned to bring together research groups from different areas: physics, chemistry, materials science and computer science, which develop projects to promote knowledge generation and optimise the possibilities of use of IFMIF-DONES.

The rector of the UGR stressed that, through the UGR-DONES, “the University of Granada, hand in hand with the Junta de Andalucía, has been present since its inception in the consortium of this great scientific project at national, European and global level that is the IFMIF-DONES. Today we can see that this building is gradually gaining content, and it houses the project and the core of the future particle accelerator to be built here in Escúzar”.

Gómez Villamandos has shown that “this complementary facility to the IFMIF-DONES project will have a significant relevance both for the scientific community and for the technological and economic development of the region”. At the same time, he is convinced that “it will contribute to make Granada an undisputed benchmark for talent, research and innovation”.

Of the overall amount allocated by the Regional Ministry of University to this infrastructure, from the FEDER Andalusia 2021-2027 program, a total of 7.9 million euros have been directed to the construction of the complex and 6.56 million euros to equipment, acquisition of software and personnel. This regional injection is part of the agreement signed by the Junta de Andalucía with the academic institution at the end of 2021 and has been transferred by the regional government.

The enclave consists of four buildings: the first is intended to house large prototypes and laboratories, the second has been designed for the installation of workshops to support research, the third, which is versatile and modular, allows alternating laboratories with meeting rooms and offices, and the fourth volume, isolated from the rest, has a use for offices, meeting rooms and control rooms.

Several significant prototypes have already been installed at the centre, two of them from the UGR and one from the Energy, Environmental and Technological Research Centre (CIEMAT). The installation of a modern Mechatronics laboratory is also planned for the near future. This facility is expected to develop R&D areas related to liquid metals, analyse accidents in particle accelerators, and characterise radiation sensors.
The center will be built on a 4,500-square-meter plot of land financed by the Junta de Andalucía, which is located next to the accelerator site. At present, around 60 people work in the complex, most of them belonging to IFMIF-DONES.

Commitment to IFMIF-DONES
Also, the head of the University has reiterated once again the regional government’s commitment to implementing IFMIF-DONES. Andalusia expects to contribute 107 million euros until 2027 from both the Andalusian Administration’s own funds and the Andalusian ERDF funding framework 2021-2027. This amount will also be increased to 211 million euros by 2034, which the Ministry of Science must also allocate in the same period.

Spain envisages an overall budget of 422.50 million euros for the particle accelerator by 2034, with both administrations providing 50% of this amount. Of this total, 376.72 million will be earmarked for investments and 45.79 million for running costs, personnel, etc.

The construction of the accelerator will entail a total investment of 700 million euros, built with in-kind contributions from participating countries and international institutions. Spain is the promoter and host of the infrastructure.

The IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator, which will be built in Escúzar in Granada, has its primary mission to test, validate and qualify the materials to be used in future nuclear fusion power plants. This facility is an opportunity to turn the community into a national and international benchmark for knowledge and research, especially in the search for clean and unlimited energy sources.

Likewise, the deployment of synergies and the knowledge transfer that it will entail will enable the business fabric of Granada and Andalusia to apply new technological developments in other areas such as basic physics, medicine, astrophysics, or even industry.

This scientific facility will have a multiplier effect for the economic development of the province of Granada and the region and its business and technological ecosystem. The University of Granada carried out a study on the socioeconomic impact associated with its implementation in which it was established that Andalusia will see an increase in the production of goods and services of more than 4,000 million euros and the generation of jobs, both direct and indirect and induced, in more than a thousand per year during all phases of the initiative. The GVA will increase by 1,800 million.

Text, photos and video: University of Granada