India has committed over 7 million euros as a co-partner in the Elettra 2.0 programme in Italy for the development of next-generation synchrotron beamlines, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh said, according to an official statement reported by IANS.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

The minister made the announcement during his visit to Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste on November 13. India's investment will be made over the next five years beginning 2026-27, and its participation will support the development of research infrastructure and human resource capacity, the Ministry of Science and Technology statement said.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

Under the Elettra 2.0 programme, the existing India-centric XRD2 and Xpress beamlines will be decommissioned and replaced by two new beamlines with enhanced capabilities. The Department of Science and Technology had jointly supported the construction of the two existing diffraction beamlines with a contribution of approximately Rs 22 crore, alongside the Italian side.

Source: IANS via BizzBuzz

€7 million+India's commitment to Elettra 2.0
5 yearsInvestment period from 2026-27
2New beamlines replacing XRD2 and Xpress

India is currently the second-largest user of Elettra after Italy, reflecting the sustained engagement of its scientific community with the facility. The upgraded facilities will open new avenues for research in chemistry, physics, advanced materials, structural biology and other scientific areas, benefiting researchers worldwide.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

The Indo-Italian Executive Programme of Cooperation (EPOC) 2025-2027 also includes a proposal to support Indian researchers in conducting experiments at the facility, with a proposed allocation of Rs 1.5 crore over three years.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

What happens next

The new beamlines will be built under the Elettra 2.0 upgrade over the five-year investment period starting 2026-27, giving Indian researchers access to next-generation synchrotron facilities in Trieste.