From 18 to 20 March, Sardinia hosted three intensive days focused on the future of research, featuring discussions on the latest scientific and managerial advancements related to Italy's bid for the Einstein Telescope. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between GARR and the Sardinia Region, and the vision for the ET-SUnLab research centre (Einstein Telescope Sardinia Underground Laboratory) was unveiled. These three interconnected and significant initiatives are designed to strengthen Italy’s bid and attract investment to the region.

On 19 March, the Sardinia Regional Council, at the proposal of President Alessandra Todde, approved the draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Region and GARR, for the interconnection of the regional telematics network with the new high-speed GARR-T network.

"Thanks to the new submarine connection and the extension of the GARR-T network," explained President Todde, "Sardinia has the opportunity to become a hub for the national and international academic and scientific community. The new network will not only be useful for the development of the ET project and will not be exclusively for the scientific community." In fact, the interconnection of the GARR network with the regional network will ensure advanced connectivity to support research, innovation, and competitiveness. The Region also plans to create an Internet Exchange Point (IXP), to help improve the performance and resilience of the regional Internet network.

According to the protocols, public and private research centres of regional and national significance, research and innovation healthcare facilities, cultural institutions, museums, and archives of regional and national relevance, research and innovation-focused schools, and other public entities identified by the Region as strategic for the digital and technological development of the territory and research will be able to access the GARR-T network.

On the afternoon of Thursday 20 March, in Lula (NU), the ET-SUnLab (Einstein Telescope Sardinia Underground Laboratory) project was publicly presented. This future research centre will be built at the Sos Enattos mine site, a candidate location for the Einstein Telescope (ET) gravitational wave observatory.

The event was opened by greetings from the Mayor of Lula, Mario Calia, and President of the Sardinia Region, Alessandra Todde, followed by speeches from the President of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Antonio Zoccoli, the board member of the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), Andrea Comastri, the director of the Environment Department of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), Massimo Chiappini, the Pro-Rector for Research at the University of Cagliari, Luciano Colombo, the Rector of the University of Sassari, Gavino Mariotti, and the director of the GARR Consortium, Claudia Battista.

The ET-SUnLab project involves the construction of a reception centre and new research laboratories at the site of the former RI.MI.SA. building, now home to the SAR-GRAV laboratory, alongside the creation of an underground multidisciplinary laboratory. SUnLab will host research and development activities for ET, low-noise physics experiments, and a geophysical observatory for the study of the Tyrrhenian geodynamics and the Earth's internal structures. The facility will also become a reference centre for outreach projects aimed at schools and vocational training.

The current project timeline – co-financed with approximately 10 million euros from the Sardinia Region, with an equal amount divided between INFN, INAF, and INGV, and in collaboration with the Universities of Cagliari and Sassari – foresees the start of construction works in 2025, with completion expected by 2026.

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