The project to build a multi-purpose synchrotron radiation accelerator, promoted as national advanced science and technology research infrastructure, is moving into full swing.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said on the 12th that the construction contract for the multi-purpose synchrotron radiation accelerator's base facilities has been finalized. The contract was signed between the Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI) and a POSCO E&C consortium. The consortium includes POSCO E&C, Gyeryong Construction, and Won Construction.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the deal marks the start of full-fledged construction for the multi-purpose synchrotron radiation accelerator project, which aims to be completed by the end of 2029.
A synchrotron radiation accelerator is a research facility that analyzes the structure and properties of matter by using synchrotron radiation generated when electrons are accelerated to near the speed of light. Capable of atomic-level precision analysis, it is regarded as high-value national research infrastructure used in fields such as semiconductors, secondary batteries, biotech and new drugs, and advanced materials.
The base facilities will be built on a site of about 310,000㎡ within Ochang Technopolis in North Chungcheong Province. Including key facilities such as the storage ring building, accelerator tunnel, and beamlines, the total floor area will be about 69,000㎡.
The core of construction is securing the ultra-precise environment required for accelerator operations. To maintain the reliability of experimental data, vibration will be controlled at the 5–400 nm (nanometers, one-billionth of a meter) level, and temperature will be kept within 25±0.1 degrees, as designed and built. The conditions demand vibration control so fine that it is extremely small even compared with the thickness of a human hair.
The Ministry of Science and ICT also plans to strengthen safety management during construction. The contract includes an evaluation of the builder's safety management performance indicators, and site-centered safety measures were reflected in the contract terms.
The government plans to pursue regular on-site inspections and process control focused on accident prevention, under the principle of prioritizing the safety of on-site workers. It aims to reduce in advance safety accidents that could occur during the construction of large research facilities.