$100M To Fund Electron-Ion Collider Project At Brookhaven National Lab: Hochul

UPTON, NY — The Empire State Development has executed a $100 million Grant Disbursement Agreement for the Electron-Ion Collider project at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday.

The agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy marks "a major milestone toward bringing the world’s only next-generation EIC to Long Island" and "launches" the state’s investment in a one-of-a-kind effort to support breakthroughs in energy, science, technology, and medicine, she said.

Hochul said that with the investment, the state is "one step closer to bringing this transformative, one-of-a-kind technology to New York State."

"Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Electron-Ion Collider will expand our state’s capability to achieve unimaginable breakthroughs in science, attract innovative 21st-century businesses, and create good-paying jobs," she said, adding that she thanks the Biden administration, New York’s congressional delegation, and Brookhaven for their partnership to transform our state into a global hub for innovation.”

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado said that for nearly eight decades, the lab has produced "groundbreaking research that has shaped the global scientific view."

"Today's historic Electron-Ion Collider announcement will continue New York's strong legacy as a leader in innovation and will provide boundless opportunities for New Yorkers and those around the world," he said.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm noted that national labs are "national treasures" and "critical to maintaining our global leadership in science, and economic anchors for their surrounding communities."

"The Electron-Ion Collider is a quintessential lab project, opening new vistas for scientific discovery, and in the process hiring hundreds of Long Island union workers to build the collider," she said. "I am grateful to Governor Hochul along with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for their leadership on this game-changing initiative.”

Brookhaven Lab was selected by the Department of Energy as the site of the world’s only next-generation polarized Electron-Ion Collider.

Following negotiations between Empire State Development and the DOE, the state's $100 million investment was finalized in February 2024, and over the next four years, the funds will support the design, construction, and hardware infrastructure installation of the initial four buildings out of a potential 14 that are a part of the collider project, officials said.

While the state's portion is expected to be complete by 2027, the overall construction is expected to continue until 2033, according to officials.

The scientific and technical components of the collider and its science program will be funded by the federal government through the DOE's Office of Science, Office of Nuclear Physics, officials said.

The lab was established in 1947 and is a multidisciplinary facility that works to address the nation’s energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions, according to officials.

The $1.7-$2.8 billion collider project to be constructed over the next decade by scientists, engineers, and technical staff from Brookhaven Lab, in partnership with Virginia’s Jefferson Lab, and other institutions from throughout the U.S. and the world, will offer "groundbreaking insights" into the structure and behavior of atomic particles, officials said.

The collider is unique in that it will be the only electron-nucleus collider operating globally, designed to allow scientists to produce precision 3-D snapshots of the particles' internal structures, similar to how a CT scanner works but on an atomic level, according to officials.

It is expected to have broad-ranging impacts beyond nuclear physics, impacting health, medicine, national security, and industrial applications with its advanced particle beam technology, officials said.

Empire State Development President CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, that the collider "exemplifies the profound impact of strategic investments in groundbreaking research and development."

"Through our partnership with federal agencies, we are pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge while solidifying New York's status as a worldwide innovation leader," he said. "This transformative project will serve as a magnet for top talent, catalyze economic growth, and pave the way for revolutionary technologies that will define our future."

Empire State Development Board Chairman Kevin Law said the milestone that underscores the state's leadership in cutting-edge scientific research and its commitment to fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem is celebrated.

The collider project represents "a bold step forward, one that will undoubtedly yield groundbreaking discoveries and drive economic prosperity for our state," he said, adding, "By investing in this visionary endeavor, we are not only advancing the frontiers of knowledge but also creating a lasting legacy of scientific excellence that will inspire generations to come."

Brookhaven Lab Director JoAnne Hewett said the state's funding commitment will support key infrastructure that is essential to the success of the project.

"It will provide the resources needed to partner with local companies on conventional construction, materials, and equipment on an optimum schedule," she said. "It will also support high-quality jobs both within the Lab and across the region. The entire Lab and EIC project team look forward to demonstrating the value of this discovery machine to NY State, DOE, and the world.”

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer noted that since his first day in the senate, he has been a "steadfast supporter" of the lab and secured billions of dollars in funding.

"I worked tirelessly with the BNL team to secure the construction of the world’s first Electron Ion Collider at the Lab, a $2.8 billion project that will keep the United States, and Long Island, at the forefront of scientific discovery," and unlock "the secrets of the universe," he said. "This project will create thousands of union construction jobs, juice Long Island’s economy, bring scientists the world over to New York, and unleash new technologies that we cannot even begin to imagine."