The ELI Beamlines center in Dolní Břežany just outside Prague has opened. The new research center is expected to cost a total of CZK 6.8bn once all the high-power research lasers are installed and should be fully operational by 2018. The EU will contribute CZK 5.8bn. The laser systems are being developed by US-European consortium led by National Energetics, in laboratories in Prague and in the Lawrence National Laboratory in California. ELI currently employs 280 scientists and technicians, one-third of which are foreigners.
