Soleil synchrotron planned to light up France's Essonne region
French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and his research minister Roger-Gérard Schwartzenberg, have announced that 'Soleil', the first French third generation synchrotron facility will be set up in the Essonne region. 'The Soleil project was actually born here, in Essonne. It was therefore natural for us to have the advantage over our competitors,' said a spokesperson from the Conseil General de l'Essonne. 'With this decision the Essonne department is finally acknowledged as the scientific, technological and industrial European centre that we have been building for years.'