Neutrons Canada Congratulates the Institute Laue Langevin on Extending Operations to 2033

“Neutrons Canada extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL) on the significant achievement of extending its operations to 2033,” says Dr. John Barrett, Chair of the Neutrons Canada Board of Directors.  

This milestone decision, made by ILL’s Associate Member countries—France, the United Kingdom, and Germany—ensures the continuation of one of the world’s most advanced neutron beam facilities, a cornerstone of global scientific progress.

This extension allows thousands of European researchers to continue studying materials to address urgent technological challenges like clean energy, environmental protection, critical minerals, and quantum innovation.

The Canadian research community has recommended that Canada become a member of the ILL in the Canadian Neutron Long-Range Plan. Currently, Canadian researchers do not have access to a major neutron source and recognize advantages of ILL’s world-class infrastructure and expertise.

Access to neutron beam facilities like the ILL provides researchers with tools for studying the fundamental properties of materials and addressing challenges in diverse scientific and technological fields. With the completion of its Endurance programme in 2024, the ILL is at the pinnacle of technical capability and capacity. Its 43-instrument suite is the largest, most diverse and most capable of any facility in the world. ILL is positioned to meet the evolving needs of the global scientific community and support European research efforts as part of the European neutron landscape.

As demand grows for solutions in areas such as sustainability and advanced technologies, access to such facilities has become more indispensable than ever.

While ILL is not formally open to applications for neutron scattering experiments from Canada, it has given access to some collaborative projects involving Canadian scientists.

Since Canada’s primary neutron source closed in 2018, scientists from six Canadian universities have used ILL beamlines for materials research. These experiments included studying Canadian dinosaur bones, hydrogen fuel technologies, quantum materials, complex fluids for environmental remediation, and model membranes to understand Vitamin E and human diseases. Additionally, researchers from TRIUMF and Canadian universities have conducted nine nuclear and particle physics experiments.

Barrett concludes, “The Canadian user community is hopeful about a strengthened partnership between Canada and ILL in the coming years. Such a partnership has the potential to unlock further opportunities for innovation and research, advancing Canadian energy and economic sovereignty through increased resilience in manufacturing, critical minerals, agri-food, and emerging quantum technologies.”