The financing contract for the construction and equipping of the High Power Optics Center in Magurele, whose beneficiary is Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, was signed on Tuesday in the presence of the interim Minister of Development, Marcel Bolos, and the Japanese Ambassador in Bucharest, Katae Takashi.According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA), the project is an extension of the Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) research facilities in Magurele, which is a strategic project of the European Commission, coordinated by Romania, and included in the roadmap of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and in the national roadmap for research priorities.The investment is financed by MDLPA, through the National Investment Company, the total value of the contract amounting to 193,192,411 RON, and the project implementation period is 24 months, five of which are dedicated to design activities, the cited source specifies."We are marking a significant step for the development of research and cutting-edge technology in Romania, the signing of this contract representing not only an investment in infrastructure, but also a firm commitment to the future of scientific research and innovation in our country. The new center, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, will enable the manufacture of large optical components, essential for the use of high-power lasers, and will strengthen Romania's role on the world research map. Thus, we will support the efficient operation of the ELI-NP Research Center infrastructure and create new opportunities on the international market," Marcel Bolos was quoted as saying in the press release.The investment includes both the construction of the building and its equipment with the technological systems necessary for the large optics manufacturing and finishing process."The Center will be equipped with the specific technology and equipment necessary to carry out the activities of manufacturing and/or repair of high-power optical components that are used at the ELI-NP Research Infrastructure or at other high-power laser centers in Romania and worldwide. These will be housed in a new dedicated building, customized according to the production, technology flow and research activities," the MDLPA press release further reads. (Photo: https://www.eli-np.ro/54-article.html)