Looking back: ITE Day 2025
On 14 May 2025, the 'new' Institute for Technology and Engineering (ITE) opened its doors for ITE Day. Around 200 participants from partner institutes and central facilities at the FZJ, as well as ITE employees, were welcomed.
A successful day with lots of positive feedback
Whether through lectures, poster exhibitions, live demonstrations or direct discussions, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many visitors were impressed by the diverse programme and open atmosphere.
It was wonderful to hear Prof. Peter Jansens, Member of the Executive Board for Scientific Division I, express his recognition. He opened the day with a welcome address to the participants.
Positive feedback also came from our international partners, particularly from the European Spallation Source (ESS) ERIC in Lund. In his welcome address, Marc Kickulies (Unit Manager of the Target Division) praised the close and successful cooperation.
He expressed his sincere thanks for the good partnership and emphasised that ESS is well positioned with FZJ and ITE at its side. This is true in good times as well as in difficult times. “This is what makes a successful partnership,” Kickulies emphasised.
Feedback like this encourages us to continue on the path of cooperation and international networking.
ESS places great value on our strong and ongoing cooperative relationship where we have benefitted greatly from your mechanical engineering, analysis and bespoke manufacturing capabilities. The ongoing work for our next-generation moderator-reflector plug reflects the strength of this partnership and a continued commitment to innovation.
Accelerator-driven neutron factories are expensive. And cost-effective opportunities to increase neutron yield after the facility is built are limited. Innovative moderator designs that can increase the number of useful neutrons per unit proton beam power are one of the most accessible ways of accomplishing this.
In the modern landscapes no single institution can “do it all” so strong partnerships between institutions such as ESS and Jülich/ITE are key to achieving the engineering realization of such improvements.
Kevin Jones Greetings - Operations and Machine Director ESS
Three extraordinary stations were the highlights
In addition to the numerous posters, the day's special highlights were the guided tours of three extraordinary locations, which illustrated the broad spectrum of work at ITE in an impressive way:
- ITE production and assembly – insights into the breadth of technology
- Neutron scattering instrument T-REX for the ESS – high technology for international materials research
- Plant time machine AgraSim – development of resilient agricultural systems and global food security
These unique stops not only offered technical depth and vividly demonstrated the versatility and interdisciplinary nature of the work carried out at the ITE.
A day full of innovation, exchange and insights
Broad participation and strong networking
We were particularly pleased with the lively participation of our partner institutes and colleagues from the central OEs – a sign of the excellent cooperation within and outside the ITE.
Mr Natour, the Institute Director, was very pleased with the successful day: “We received so much positive feedback from visitors, who were impressed by our presentations, poster exhibitions, demonstrations and personal exchanges.”
Special thanks went to all the colleagues who were actively involved and to the organisation team, whose dedication made this day possible.
The day not only introduced the 'new' ITE, but also demonstrated the practical and forward-looking nature of our research. We look forward to further events that promote open exchange and raise the profile of our work.