The Middle East's international synchrotron research facility, which will bring together scientists from at least 11 countries, has finally been given a home. The new centre will be in Jordan, at a site halfway between the country's capital, Amman, and the West Bank.

The synchrotron has been donated by the German government (see Nature 399, 507–508; 1999). Given sufficient funding, it will be rebuilt on property owned by the Al-Balqa' Applied University in Al-Salt.

The site was formally approved last month by the interim council of the project, known as SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East). Armenia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, the Palestinian Authority and Turkey are already backing the project, and Bahrain, Yemen and Tunisia have expressed their intention to join.

“The project represents a general enthusiasm for collaboration in the Middle East,” says Siegbert Raither, director of mathematics, physical and chemical sciences at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, which is overseeing the project.

Jordan has agreed to pay US$1 million per year in operating costs, and member countries are expected to give US$50,000 per year for the three years of construction.

But more funds are still needed for the project. Organizers are hoping for assistance from the US and European programmes for peace in the region.