Mailing of July 7, 2025

DALI reaches important Milestone

Project selected for national research infrastructure shortlist

Dear colleagues,

We are delighted to inform you that our planned research project DALI – Dresden Advanced Light Infrastructure has been selected for inclusion on Germany’s shortlist of priority research infrastructures. This marks a major milestone in the national selection process for future large-scale scientific facilities.

Being shortlisted is a strong signal of DALI’s scientific potential and represents an important step toward its realization. In the prioritization process initiated by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), DALI prevailed in a highly competitive national field of applicants. The evaluation focused on the project’s scientific excellence, innovative strength, potential applications, and technical feasibility, among other aspects. The recommendation by the German Science and Humanities Council confirms: our concept is convincing across the board.

What is DALI?

At HZDR, DALI is planned as a high-field source for intense terahertz radiation, based on accelerated electrons. The facility will be used to investigate dynamic processes in a wide variety of materials. Complemented by positron secondary radiation, a system for ultrafast electron diffraction, and specialized user laboratories, DALI will open up new opportunities for breakthroughs across all our research areas – energy, health and matter. Learn more

Our sincere thanks go to everyone who has contributed to the development of the concept and the proposal with great dedication, whether in the core project team or in supporting roles. This achievement would not have been possible without your expertise and commitment.

We will, of course, keep you informed about the next steps regarding DALI. But today, we can all take a moment to celebrate – this recognition is a testament to the scientific excellence and forward-looking vision that define HZDR as a whole.

Best regards,

Sebastian M. Schmidt and Diana Stiller