© ESRF
Since its inception in 1967, the Institut Laue - Langevin (ILL) has sought to become the most reliable neutron source for research and studies in the fields of material sciences, solid-state physics, chemistry, crystallography, molecular biology and nuclear and fundamental physics.
Owing to its high-flux reactor, which became operational in 1971, ILL operates one of the most intense neutron sources in the world, feeding some 40 experimental stations. Thanks to its outstanding infrastructure, ILL has positioned itself at the forefront of neutron research. Every year several hundred scientists carry out their experiments and measurements at this unique research facility in Grenoble.
ILL’s permanent members (the “Associates”) are France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden are scientific members, meaning they have five-year contracts allowing them use of the facility. With a staff of almost 500 and being subject to extremely strict nuclear security requirements, ILL has an annual budget approaching EUR 98 million. Operating the facility is thus a demanding task, but the fundamental importance of the services it supplies for research throughout the world amply justifies these efforts.
Update programmes Millennium and Endurance
In order to ensure its leading position in world neutron science and provide cutting-edge infrastructure, since 2001 ILL has been undergoing an update process. This is being carried out in two phases. The first, labelled “Millennium”, was completed in 2019 and involved the installation of 14 new or completely overhauled instruments. The neutron guides have also been replaced, and this has multiplied the rate of neutron detection by a factor of 24. The second phase, “Endurance”, was launched in 2016 with the aim of replacing or significantly upgrading 30 instruments.
Swiss participation
Switzerland's scientific partnership in ILL is based on a series of international treaties initially signed in 1988 and renewed for five-year periods in 1993, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2014 and 2019. On June 6, 2024, Switzerland's participation in the ILL was renewed for a period from 2024 to 2028 on the basis of the CHF 12 million commitment credit approved by Parliament in 2020. Switzerland's participation can be increased to CHF 26.4 million and extended to 2033, provided Parliament approves the required resources in the frame of the Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation 2025-2028. The use and maintenance of ILL infrastructure creates substantial orders for Swiss industry. The Swiss Industry Liaison Office is responsible for promoting relations between Swiss companies and ILL.
Contact
SERI, Patrice Soom
Head of the Swiss delegation to the ILL Steering Committee and representative of the ILL Scientific Members at the ILL Associates meetings
Prof. Marc Janoschek
Scientific delegate representing Switzerland