The King of Sweden and French President Macron visit ESS

ESS Director General Helmut Schober stands to the left of the King of Sweden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Swedish Minister of Education Mats Persson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, by a red carpet outside the shiny glass office buildings of ESS
ESS Director General welcomes the King of Sweden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Swedish Minister of Education Mats Persson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström. Image: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS
Handshake Macron

Today ESS, the European Spallation Source ERIC, welcomed His Majesty the King of Sweden and His Excellency the President of the Republic of France Emmanuel Macron as part of the French State Visit to Sweden (30–31 January 2024).

The distinguished guests were welcomed by Director General Helmut Schober and Swedish Minister for Education Mats Persson.

DG talk

ESS Director General presenting ESS.

Image: Helen Fröderberg/ESS

The two delegations included the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, French Minister for Higher Education and Research Sylvie Retailleau, President of the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) Antoine Petit, General Administrator of the Atomic Energy and Renewable Energies Commission (CEA) François Jacq, French Ambassador to Sweden Etienne de Gonneville and Swedish Ambassador to France Håkan Åkesson.

The two-day State Visit, began in Stockholm and concluded in Skåne, aimed at providing an opportunity to enhance cooperation in the areas of innovation and green transition, trade and investment, as well as defence and security.

In this framework of scientific research and innovation, the visit to ESS provided opportunities to showcase many excellent examples of partnerships.

ESS Technical Director Kevin Jones introduces the accelerator RFQ to the visitors, including Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström

ESS Technical Director Kevin Jones introduces the Normal Conducting Linac RFQ (Radio Frequency Quadrupole) to the visitors, including Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Ola Barver, Aide-de-Camp to HM the King

Image: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS

The delegation visited the ESS accelerator, a key part of the neutron facility that hosts components delivered through French-Swedish collaborations, such as the superconducting Spoke Cryomodules.  A special light display demonstrated where the future proton beam will move and accelerate through the cryomodules.

A view of many heads - reporters in the foreground, and the visitors including HRH The King of Sweden, President Macron and Swedish and French Ministers behind.

HRH The King of Sweden, President Macron and Swedish Minister Mats Persson listen as Helmut Schober introduces the final ceremonial moments in the accelerator tunnel.

Image: Tim Birkin/ESS

In parallel to the visit to the facility, members of the Swedish and French delegations had the opportunity to meet senior management representatives, getting to know more about ESS, the status of the construction and the science programme that it will enable, for the benefit of European science and innovation.

“We are deeply honoured to welcome to ESS His Majesty the King of Sweden and His Excellency the President of the Republic of France Emmanuel Macron”, says Director General Helmut Schober. “Our organisation, rooted in Sweden and Denmark, is a vibrant example of successful international collaboration, where France, with the other member countries, contributes its unique knowledge and expertise to push the boundaries of European science, technology and innovation.”

Large room with wooden panelling, with smart standing tables with HRH The King of Sweden and His Excellency President Macron of France looking at ESS Director General who is speaking from the right

HRH The King of Sweden and His Excellency President Macron of France listening to ESS Director General Professor Helmut Schober speaking about ESS as a tool for scientific excellence and collaboration.

Image: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS

DG Helmut Schober in a tunnel with the accelerator on the right, explains to HRH The King and President Macron about how a particle accelerator works

DG Helmut Schober took the visitors into the accelerator tunnel and explained the principles of how it works and what it is for. 

Image: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS

HRH The King of Sweden holds the left hand side of a metal plaque, while President Macron on his right holds the right hand side, and together they place it on the side of a shiny metallic cryomodule of the accelerator

HRH The King of Sweden holds the left hand side of a metal plaque, while President Macron on his right holds the right hand side, and together they place it on the side of a Spoke cryomodule of the accelerator, which was designed, built and tested with French and Swedish collaboration.

Image: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS

HRH The King of Sweden fixes a small round flange to a cryomodule on the left, while President Macron on his right fits another, indicating the final installation of the Spoke Cryomodules

President Macron and His Royal Highness each fitted a final flange to a cryomodule, indicating its final installation.

Image: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS

Helmut Schober smiles next to a smiling President Macron

Helmut Schober smiles as he says farewell to President Macron at the end of the visit

Image: Ulrika Hammarlund/ESS

 

Pictures from the state visit are available for download in the ESS Media Bank.