Congratulations from JINR Director G.V.Trubnikov

Dear friends and colleagues!

We have several festive days ahead of us and a year full of intense and interesting work, experiences, achievements and victories is behind us. It is high time to stop for a moment, reflect on the results and think about the future in anticipation of the greatest joy of our profession - the birth of new knowledge and the almost magical transformation of the conceived into the existing.

The outgoing year will be remembered for its outstanding scientific results, important achievements in the development of the Institute's research infrastructure and significant events in the life of JINR as an international intergovernmental organization.

The Veksler and Baldin Laboratory of High Energy Physics completes preparations for comprehensive technological tests of the NICA accelerator complex. An important stage in the implementation of the NICA MPD project has been completed - the solenoid of the MPD detector has been successfully cooled to helium temperature. Five sessions have been implemented on the NICA channels for applied research.

The Superheavy Element Factory successfully operates in the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions. The modernization of the U 400M accelerator has been completed, the first cycle of experiments has been held. The construction of a new experimental building for the U 400R is ahead of schedule.

In the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, technological work on the launch of IBR-2M has been almost completed.

The Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems has successfully carried out expeditions to develop the Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope that brought it to record parameters in a number of characteristics.

The multifunctional information and computing complex of the Meshcheryakov Laboratory of Information Technologies has reached a qualitatively new level that allows JINR to fulfill its obligations to participate in international collaborations in accordance with the highest global standards.

The Laboratory of Radiation Biology has played a catalytic role in the Institute's multidisciplinary research agenda.

JINR reliably maintains the high bar of one of the most productive centres in terms of the number of publications in leading scientific journals in the world in a wide range of scientific fields, in which a significant role belongs to the unique Laboratory of Theoretical Physics. In 2024, the Institute organized over 80 international scientific events, including major conferences with more than 200 participants.

Thanks to the intensive work of the JINR University Centre, more than 600 students and postgraduates from dozens of countries took part in the scientific and educational programmes of the Institute, completed qualifying papers.

The level of participation in JINR of scientists from Vietnam and Egypt increases that gradually enters the cruising mode of work. In the outgoing year, cooperation with the People's Republic of China reached a qualitatively new level, cooperation with South Africa, Serbia, Brazil has significantly strengthened. Participation of JINR scientists in the international research programme at CERN is underway.

The Institute's social infrastructure has been widely developing. The healthcare sector has changed for the better due to the radical transformation of Medical Unit No. 9 that would have been impossible without the support of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of the Russian Federation and the city administration.

In the difficult geopolitical conditions of 2024, these and many other results were achieved thanks to the dedicated, sometimes extreme work of scientists, engineers, workers and specialists not only in the JINR laboratories, but also equally, in the administrative departments and services of the Institute.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the entire JINR staff, to each of our employees. It is a great honor and happiness to work with you!

Meeting the challenges of 2025 will require us to focus on all areas of the Institute's activities. In this year, preceding the 70th anniversary of JINR, we will launch the NICA accelerator complex, start preparations for experiments on the synthesis of elements 119 and 120, resume the international user programme at IBR-2M, complete a huge reconstruction of several social infrastructure facilities, with the progressive development of the Institute as a unique integration platform for multilateral international scientific and technological cooperation.

Happy New Year, dear friends! Happiness to your families, success and joy!

JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov