In a joint effort to unravel the mysteries of the universe and explore the unknown, Korea and Italy are strengthening their collaboration. The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has extended the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on research cooperation with Italy's National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN). The signing ceremony took place on November 8th during the visit of Italian President Sergio MATTARELLA and was attended by the leaders of both countries.

▲ From right, South Korean President YOON Suk Yeol, IBS President NOH Do Young, Italian President Sergio MATTARELLA, INFN Managing Director Antonio ZOCCOLI

IBS and INFN have been collaborating since their first agreement in 2014, fostering exchanges of research personnel and conducting joint research and development in the fields of accelerators, particle physics, and theoretical physics. With this renewed agreement, the collaboration will expand its scope and targets, covering a wide range of physics-related areas such as neutrino measurements, dark matter exploration, and experiments involving ion beams.

Notably, the collaboration is expected to conduct more creative and pioneering joint research by leveraging IBS's state-of-the-art facilities. IBS operates the world’s sixth deepest underground experimental facility called YemiLab, which was completed last year. IBS’s world-class heavy-ion accelerator, RAON, also successfully began operations earlier this year.

President NOH Do Young of IBS, emphasized, "This MOU holds great significance as it signifies enhanced cooperation between IBS, equipped with world-class dark matter and neutrino research facilities and outstanding human resources, and Italy's INFN." He added, "By strengthening existing research collaboration in the field of heavy-ion accelerators and expanding cooperation in various areas such as dark matter exploration, we anticipate creating a research environment that enhances synergies between the two institutions."

IBS Public Relations Team
William I. Suh