The event brought together coordinators from various ET-PP work packages, ET board coordinators, members of the ET governing boards, and other influential figures associated with the Einstein Telescope initiative. Mario Martinez, ICREA Researcher at IFAE and coordinator of the ET-PP project , hosted the meeting where attendees reported on the progress of the ET-PP activities and collaboratively defined the roadmap for the forthcoming months.

The event commenced with a series of inaugural presentations by the local organizers and political authorities, emphasizing their commitment to the Einstein Telescope project.

Eugenio Coccia, Director of IFAE and president of the Board of the Einstein Telescope Collaboration, who underscored the connection between Albert Einstein and Barcelona, highlighting IFAE’s dedicated support for the Einstein Telescope as a flagship project.

Laia Arnal, director of the DGSCTT (Generalitat de Catalunya, Department Recerca i Universitats), who emphasized the research and innovation that characterizes Catalonia in numerous fields.

Ramon Bosch, representing the Diputació de Barcelona, expressed the Diputació’s commitment to providing spaces for the temporary ET headquarters in Barcelona, further showcasing their support for this groundbreaking initiative.

Gonzalo Arévalo Nieto, Director General de Planificación de la Investigación, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, spoke about the enormous opportunity that the Einstein Telescope presents for science and industry collaborations. He also recognized the tremendous effort led by Mario Martínez in uniting 23 Spanish institutions with a shared interest in the Einstein Telescope.

Additionally, the event featured a special talk by Barry Barish, Nobel Laureate in 2017 for the discovery of gravitational waves. Barish introduced the Cosmic Explorer project, a future gravitational wave detector from the United States that will succeed LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory). His presentation shed light on the advancements and innovations in gravitational wave research, further inspiring the participants and fueling their determination to push the boundaries of scientific exploration.

Throughout the Annual Meeting, participants engaged in in-depth discussions and aligned their efforts towards the ambitious goals of the ET-PP project. The sessions included presentations, workshops, and plenary discussions, all of which fostered synergy and facilitated effective decision-making for the future of the Einstein Telescope.