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Declaration of Support
The Ministry of National Development and Economy has recently developed a mature and competitive feasibility concept in close cooperation with the government, the professional workshops and scientific bodies. The homogeneous professional support rendered by our internationally recognized Hungarian scientists is also especially important for constructing ESS in Debrecen. Some other thoughtful arguments also further the Hungarian implementation of the ESS project. Each available preliminary cost calculation suggests that from among the applying sites the lowest investment costs would be generated in Debrecen, with identical technological content and in identical quality. The Hungarian government and the Local Government of Debrecen shall promote the successful completion of the investment project under a generous government funding scheme, with widespread tax allowances and other administrative advantages. Yet the Hungarian construction of the Spallation Source would provide especially favourable conditions not only to European scientists and researchers. The investment in Debrecen would concurrently offer outstanding scientific opportunities to the European Union, the whole of Central Eastern Europe and Hungary. This is why I have the pleasure of fully supporting the ‘Hungary for ESS’ project. Gordon BAJNAI Declaration of Support
It is clear to me that it is a great opportunity for Debrecen to be able to contribute to the implementation of the ESS project. We are ready to express our gratitude for this chance with the hospitality characteristic both of our country and city and in a number of other ways as well. The Municipality of the city wishes to prove its intent of support by local tax benefits, high-priority partnership and simple licensing proceedings. Debrecen is a city with great intellectual and cultural traditions, developing quickly but a liveable city securing European quality of life, of which its citizens are proud with good reason. I am convinced that if the European Spallation Source were to be built in Debrecen, then the several thousands of researchers working there will be able to find a real home in our city. The city is characterised by a vivid cultural life, from among the programmes of theatres, music and fine arts everybody can find something to meet his or her taste. The people working here and their family members may have a choice of numerous touristic and recreational services in their leisure time. I can promise in the name of the Municipality of the City of Debrecen: as a potential host of the project we will continue to work with all of our forces so that the ESS project, which is of high priority from the aspect of the scientific development and future competitiveness of Europe, can be implemented as soon as possible. Declaration of Support
In connection with the ESS project we have to clarify several basic facts. This new generation, environmentally friendly technology exceeds by far the potential of the nuclear reactors serving research purposes currently used. At the same time, the performance of the so-called long pulse spallation source concept, constituting the conceptual basis of the facility, is even greater than that of those used in the Japanese and American neutron source centers. As a result, it is possible to build the world’s most developed institution of its kind in Europe. Its operation would not only revolutionize pharmacology, chemical industry and electronics, but many other fields and branches. Hungary is a small country. Nevertheless it is publicly known that the scientists born here attributed a particular importance to nuclear researches in the course of the 20th century. It is sufficient to mention Professors Leó SZILÁRD, Ede TELLER and Jenő WIGNER. The Hungarian neutron research achieved considerable results also in the past decades. Our scientists proved their knowledge and competence in a number of Hungarian and international projects. Besides the “father” of the unique technology of ESS, Ferenc MEZEI, I should not forget the considerable results of Norbert KROÓ, László CSER, László ROSTA and their collaborators. After the implementation of the almost unique investment of the ESS project, thousands of European scientists, engineers and researchers will work so that Europe would be capable of preserving its competitiveness in the field of scientific development in the future as well. Today Debrecen also applies to host the ESS project. I am convinced that Debrecen has excellent infrastructural features from the aspect of the project. The Nuclear Research Institute (ATOMKI) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is operating in this city. Debrecen is one of the citadels of the Hungarian R+D activities. In a number of faculties of the city’s university approximately 30,000 students, teachers or researchers are learning and working. As President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences I am firmly convinced that Debrecen can be an ideal site for this unique European research project. Declaration of Support Closing declaration Scientific and innovation capabilities and capacities of each region of the continent should be well integrated for the benefit of the whole EU community. The above policy goal should be supported by an optimal distribution of Pan-European research infrastructures throughout the European Research Area, following criteria of scientific and technological excellence, best cost efficiency, and facilitating the mobility of researchers across Europe. The supporting countries acknowledge each others' effort to host major European scientific and research infrastructures for optimally contributing to the advancement of European competitiveness. This will be part of the broader endeavour of assuring the most effective use of talents and resources of the whole continent by achieving a better geographical balance in the emerging European Research Area among the various regions of the European Union. It is expected that major Pan-European research facilities and agencies will be successfully attracted to countries in Central and Eastern Europe. We are committed to fully support such efforts in a concerted and mutually supportive fashion. At the Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels on the 6th March, European Science Ministers agreed to move ahead the site selection process for the European Spallation Source (ESS). Debrecen site can ensure the highest scientific excellence at most favourable conditions for the benefit of European science and competitiveness, therefore the governments of Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia express their support for selecting this site for ESS. Such a decision followed by further EU or Pan-European projects hosted by the supporting countries, like ELI, Allegro, ACER, Galileo, etc. could substantially contribute to the better European integration of the research and innovation capabilities of the Central-European region. |
European Spallation Source (ESS) promises to be the most state-of-the-art scientific facility on the Globe. This investment will grant unique research possibilities to about 5000 European researchers over several decades. Both the Hungarian government and the Hungarian society of scientists unitedly support ESS project implementation. We are convinced that the construction of ESS in Hungary fully harmonizes with the ambitions of the European Union to support the new member states and locate the research infrastructures in a more balanced regional layout. 
As the Mayor of Debrecen, I am extremely proud that, representing Hungary and Central - Eastern Europe, from among several Hungarian participants, the proposal of Debrecen proved to be the most suitable to host a world-standard scientific and research project like the European Spallation Source (ESS), 
At their 1999 conference, the departmental ministers of OECD decided to launch the building of three neutron source centers on each of three continents. Since then the first center has commenced its operation in the US, while another one is under construction in Japan. Meanwhile, the project aiming at the creation of the European Spallation Source (ESS) has been launched as well. 