The ELI-NP laser facility in Magurele, near Bucharest, hosts the world's most powerful laser. Now entering the operational phase of its Gamma Beam System, the project is set for completion in 2026.
In a small town just outside Bucharest, Romania is home to one of the most remarkable scientific projects in Europe. The ELI-NP laser facility in Magurele hosts what is described as the most powerful laser in the world, and it is now moving closer to full completion, promising to place the country firmly at the heart of European research.
What is ELI-NP
ELI-NP stands for Extreme Light Infrastructure Nuclear Physics, a research centre located in Magurele, on the outskirts of Bucharest. It is one of the world's most advanced laser research infrastructures, hosting an ultra high power laser system and a range of cutting edge laboratories dedicated to forefront science.
The facility enables research across several fields, including physics, nuclear science, and materials science, along with applications that could have a genuinely global impact. Its capabilities are expected to open doors to experiments that were, until now, simply impossible to carry out anywhere in the region.
The Gamma Beam System
A major milestone came in February 2026, when the facility announced that it was entering the operational phase of its Gamma Beam System. The announcement, made at the IFIN-HH and ELI-NP Conference Centre, marked the transition from the design and contracting stage to the effective implementation phase.
The scientific community has very high expectations for this system, anticipating top technical performance in terms of beam intensity, stability, and resolution. Such precision is considered essential for the ambitious experiments that researchers hope to conduct at the facility in the years ahead.
Completion targeted for 2026
According to reports, the ELI-NP project, equipped with the most powerful laser in the world, is set to be completed by December 2026. The focus is increasingly on real world applications, particularly in fields such as medicine and industry, where the technology could bring significant and lasting benefits.
This timeline represents an important moment for a project that has faced its share of challenges over the years. Bringing the facility to full operational capacity would finally allow Romania to unlock the enormous scientific potential that has been steadily built up in Magurele.
International partnership
The project also relies heavily on strong international cooperation. RI Research Instruments, a company owned by the American group Bruker Corporation, will deliver key components and essential subsystems for the gamma ray source, working with the Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, known as IFIN-HH.
The total value of these contracts is estimated at around 35 million euros. This kind of partnership underlines how the facility connects Romanian scientific expertise with leading international technology providers, further reinforcing its status as a serious and credible research hub.
A major national investment
Delivering a project of this scale requires substantial funding. The Romanian Government has updated the total investment value for the ELI-NP project to around 2.18 billion lei. The infrastructure is co-financed by the European Commission, through the European Regional Development Fund, together with the Romanian state.
Romania on the research map
Beyond the technical achievements, the facility carries important strategic weight for the country. Officials say the project positions Romania at the core of European research in nuclear physics and nuclear photonics, a field with growing scientific and practical importance right across the continent.
By hosting such an advanced infrastructure, Romania strengthens its role as a credible partner in major European research projects. For a country often overlooked in global science, ELI-NP represents a powerful statement of ambition and capability on the international stage.
A bright future for Magurele
As the ELI-NP facility approaches full completion, the town of Magurele is set to become a genuine beacon of European science. If the project fulfils its great promise, the world's most powerful laser could help drive discoveries in physics, medicine, and industry for many years to come.
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