On the way towards FAIR: Council takes the next steps
15.12.2025 |
Major milestones achieved with the start of first commissioning activities, good prospects for the CBM experiment, and major progress on the new FAIR Control Center: At its most recent meeting on December, 9 and 10 in Darmstadt, the FAIR Council—the highest decision-making body of the international Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR)—set out steps for the future development of FAIR.
For two days, Council members focused on the next implementation steps, the timeline for on-schedule installation and commissioning, and strategic priorities.
One of the central topics on the agenda of the Council meeting was the current status report on the FAIR project, which is progressing extremely well.
One highlight is that the project is entering an important and exciting new phase with the start of first commissioning activities. These commissioning activities are related to the cryogenic facility for the production of liquid helium for the superconducting magnets of the accelerator machine.
Another highlight is, that work has already begun on installing the control consoles in the new FAIR Control Center (FCC) building, which is currently under construction and will be a key hub for the entire infrastructure on the GSI/FAIR campus once completed around mid 2026. During a tour, the Council members were able to get an own impression on the current state of progress on the FCC, which will control and monitor the complex accelerator facility with its state-of-the-art high-tech equipment.
The Council gave also an important signal for the CBM experiment for compressed baryonic matter, one of FAIR's central research pillars. The Council reaffirmed the significance of this unique experiment and authorised additional steps to support its implementation. India, the third-largest shareholder of the FAIR GmbH and strongly involved in scientific research with CBM, expects to provide substantial funding in spring of the next year, which would allow the full realization of the CBM experiment. The political decision-making processes for this have been set in motion. India is a key partner in science and technology, and in this context, in 2024, the 50th anniversary of German-Indian cooperation in science and technology was celebrated with events in New Delhi, India and also on FAIR/GSI campus, Darmstadt.
Another focus during the Council meeting was on the positive results of the recent FAIR Phase 0 experimental campaign with the GSI accelerator facilities, which have already been significantly upgraded for their later use as pre-accelerators for FAIR. The results obtained are now gradually being published in leading specialist journals and on high-impact scientific platforms, underscoring FAIR’s immense potential for the international research community. The Council agenda also included updating the FAIR Convention rules to bring them up to date for the future, as well as further calls for tenders for the FAIR project.
Professor Thomas Nilsson, Scientific Managing Director of FAIR and GSI, commented: “I am very pleased with Council's latest decisions. They are forward-looking and essential for the success of FAIR. The dedicated efforts of all FAIR partners are crucial for the future of the project and show how we can work together to push forward the commissioning of the globally unique FAIR facility.” (BP)
